It is already the seventh edition of Interclassics Brussels and we did have some expectations after a nevertheless calmer version of 2021. And yes the expectations have been met, and how!

75 years of Ferrari

Let us start right away with the first theme, 75 years of Ferrari. Throughout the year, we have been able to witness expos here and there where the brand with the prancing horse has been put in the picture.

Here at Interclassics Brussels, for me, the greatest variety is on display. The very nicely laid out stand and the nice combination of both competition models and road cars makes it very attractive.

Besides this milestone, it also highlights the unique relationship of Belgium and the “Scuderia”. Back in 1952, the Belgian privateer Ecurie Francorchamps entered its distinctive yellow Ferraris at the start of Le Mans and many F1 races.

Highest number of visitors on a Friday

Since the first edition, we have been loyal visitors to Interclassics Brussels. This 7th edition promises to be an absolute top edition. We noticed that even on Friday morning very many car enthusiasts had already found their way to our capital. At the end of this Friday, the organisation registered the highest number of visitors ever on a Friday.

Lots of variety

The Porsche craze has apparently gone down a bit. There were times in the past when whenever we walked around a fair or event that we saw more Porsche’s on display than visitors. Here at Interclassics Brussels, there is a very nice balance between the brands presented.

So there is something for everyone. An old Opel Kadet at a very democratic price or rather an exclusive Ferrari, Bentley or Maserati. It’s all there. So too was this rare Cadillac which, with only 500 built and an asking price of 315,000 euros, was among what I felt were the more expensive Americans at this fair.

Old craft

There are quite a few companies that have specialised in restoring classic cars in recent years. But we thought this one stood out.

So here in the short film, we see a craftsman from SLG Classic Cars hammering plate in an artisanal way. To eventually use this to build a new bodywork or part of it.

The same man is seen rolling a piece of sheet metal above.

Memorabilia

At every classic car event, there are plenty of stands with memorabilia for the car enthusiast. This year they too were back in abundance with often really nice pieces.

Nice to see that there is still interest in this from the younger generation too.

BMW M, the most powerful letter ever

The BMW M division may blow out 50 candles this year. Founded in 1972, the M division had only 35 employees at the start. Its aim was to provide support for BMW’s motorsport programme in the following years.

A second goal was to start applying some of the experience gained to road cars. This would further strengthen the sporty character BMW already had. By 1988, the M division already had over 400 employees and its importance was growing for the Bavarian brand.

We found the first results of the M department in the BMW 3.0 CSL. The car was noticeably lighter and was built with help from Alpina. The real breakthrough came when factory drivers Hans-Joachim Stuck and Chris Amon won the Touring Car Grand Prix at the Nürburgring in a CSL. Shortly afterwards, there was also a win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the touring car class.

The idea grew to build a real sports car with the intention of using it mainly during sports competitions. For this, BMW appealed to Italian Lamborghini to have the model developed there in collaboration with BMW. Due to numerous conflicts, BMW made the decision to build the car itself after all. This prompted the creation of BMW Motorsport GmbH. In 1978, the first in-house sports car was then produced by MGmbH. Initially, the M1 was intended to compete in the German racing championship DRM. Homologation for public roads followed after the 1987 Paris Motor Show. BMW built 450 street-legal versions of the M1, all featuring the 3.0-litre six-in-line engine. In racing trim, the engine could produce up to 1,000 hp!

Bentley Continental GT3 Art Car by Jean Boghossian

The design on this Bentley GT3 was created from three physical works, one of which was digitised and printed on the car. The race car competed in the 2022 Spa 24 Hours and took victory in the Ultimate Cup Series at Hockenheim. The special feature of this project is the participation of Nigel Bailly. After a motorbike accident at the age of 14, he suffered a spinal cord injury. However, this did not stop him from pursuing his motorsport dream. In 2021, he competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in an Oreca 07-Gibson, among others. His foundation YourGT enables people with disabilities to practice sports and develop further in their sport. Partly through the auction of works, the foundation gets their operating funds.

Supercars 2 in Autoworld

Anyone who follows us knows that Autoworld Brussels is one of our favourite museums. So you can regularly read reports on their themed exhibitions on our blog. Last year we visited Supercars, an exhibition that brought together a group of fantastic Super and Hypercars. We enjoyed it and it was also one of their most successful expos for Autoworld. That will now be followed up with Supercars 2 “Road vs Race Edition”. We are already looking forward to it and will not fail to warm you up to this expo.

Bond in Motion

For Sale

During your visit to Interclassics Brussels, you will see many car dealers who all show up with their finest specimens. Sometimes we see cars returning fairly regularly which shows that not every vehicle is sold in 1, 2, 3. But just as regularly, we see signs ‘Sold’, ‘Sold’ or ‘Vendu’ on the cars. This indicates that some classic cars do change hands at these events. It also makes it interesting because it keeps the supply constantly varying.

More Crafts

You know what gives you the most pleasant feeling in a car? Grasping a new steering wheel! Because your steering wheel is actually your main link between yourself as a driver and the machine you control. Often in really old cars or cars with very high mileage, the steering wheel is no longer in the best condition. Know that there are specialised companies that will transform your old steering wheel into a new gem that you will no longer want to unload. Of course, you could also admire this craft at Interclassics Brussels.

Conclusion

Completely back from never being there seems like a good finale. Interclassics Brussels came across as stronger for us than ever before. The Ferrari and BMW M expos were more than worth a visit. The wide range of vehicles offered by dealers were the icing on the cake. Many visitors left home with a nice feeling and a head full of dreams.

See you next year!