[Jeroen]

Last Sunday I visited the Interclassics show in Brussels, Belgium. It is probably the last major classic car show in Europe each year. In early January the big shows start up again all over Europe.

https://interclassics.events/en/

They claimed this was the largest classic car show in the Benelux. I am not convinced. They also organise the Interclassic show in Maastricht in January. My impression has always been the latter is larger than its Brussels sibling.

Irrespective, this is always a nice classic car show, with high-quality cars on display and all the other usual things you are likely to find at a classic car show.

So early Sunday morning, I quickly ordered my ticket online and hopped into my Mini. It is just under an hour and a half drive for me. Motorway all the way.

The exhibition centre is next to one of oBrussel'sls historic landmarks, the Atomium



https://atomium.be/home/Index

I just realised I don't think I have ever been inside the Atomium. Must do it next time we visit Brussels. We have seen a lot of Brussels lately. We overnighted here earlier this week to attend a Natalie Merchant concert and visit the Herge Museum (https://www.museeherge.be/en) or TinTin Museum as it is sometimes referred to.

These exhibitions have hundreds and hundreds of cars on display. So I will only show a very small selection. The ones I like, the ones that I think are special and the ones I know some of our members appreciate I hope.

On these high-end classic car exhibitions you will find more Ferraris than you can shake a stick at:



I had never come across this VW:



It is called the XL1. The design team was told to to come up with a fully useable car, that could be produced in series, with a fuel efficiency of 1/100 l/km.

So they came up with the XL1. It's built as a monocoque, mostly composite materials. Cw of 0,186, plug-in hybrid system with a two-cylinder TDi 48 HP engine and a 27HP motor. It also sports a DSG box.

The team exceeded the design brief as this contraption returned less than 09,l per 100 km! It weighs only 795 kg and 250 XL1s were produced.

A bit of Belgium motorcycle/moped history here. Gorgeous!





I am a member of a Facebook called "Cut Away Cars". It is a very active group with members posting daily all kinds of cut-away drawings of cars, and or car parts. I don't have such drawings, so I tend to post-cut away real cars/engines or models.

So I am always on the lookout for cut-away cars, engines, or other car-related parts. I won't bore you with too many, but I can tell you I found over 20 items on this show!

Here is the famous VW Beetle boxer engine!



It is very nice all these classic cars, but how would I transport my valuable classic car I hear you ask? This might do:



It is called the Algema Blitzlader 2. It can carry up to 3,3 tonnes, and can pul a 3,5 tonnes trailer as well. It only takes 8 seconds to get this thing to bend itself so you can drive your valuable classic car in or out!

Have a look at this promotion video, pretty cool:

https://algema-fitzel.com/en/fahrzeuge/blitzlader-2/

I have always liked these Volvo 240s. I had one in the late eighties as a company car. I had not realised the Belgium Cops drove them too.



It is probably one of the most iconic design details on a (classic) car that every core Petrolhead will recognize



This is an instruction model, used to teach young mechanics the basics of engine, gearbox and so on. In general, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to find young people to become car mechanics or similar jobs. This is a real problem because we are going to need a lot of people who would like to work with their hands. Apart from cars, think windmills, solar panels, heat pumps and so on. Millions of these are going to be installed and will need servicing.

The model was on display at an organisation that across Europe, recruits young people to train in the classic car world. Great initiative I think.



The smallest car on display, and we talking teeny tiny here, was this Brutch Microcar. Yours for only Euro 25000,--.



As always lots and lots of car models are on display as well. From brand new to second-hand and anything in between.



Although it is unlikely I would ever own one of these sorts of cars, I love looking at them. These are real racing machines. Nothing like today's F1 cars. Which, when all is said and done, just looks like props from a Star Wars movie.



This is what I would consider a real engine!!



Look at this! Never seen anything like it before. The whole valve train sticks out of the bonnet. Makes for easy adjusting of course.



A few more cut-away engines





There is a pretty sizeable market for these types of petrol pumps too. Purely for display purposes. I like them, but I don't think Mrs D is going to allow me to put one in our yard.

[Jeroen]

For those of you who like the fantastic Ferrari GTO, but can't afford one.
Here is a nice replica for only euro 130000. (The last GTO that was auctioned went for well over fifty million dollars, so this is a real steal!



One of my personal favourites. At some point in time, I am going to get myself one of these. The Mercedes Pagode W113. This one is being restored, had just been resprayed. I love this colour!!



These cars are not that rare, just very much sought after. That has driven up the price. The good news, everyone is expecting the prices to drop considerably in the next 5-10 years. Most of the owners are in their 80s and 90s. They bought these cars in the late 80s-90s at the end of a successful career.

A decent Pagode will set you back at least Euro 100000. This immaculately 1970 fully restored 280SL is yours for Euro 155000.



I have mentioned before, on other threads, these sorts of classic car shows tend to merge into almost any sort of lifestyle exhibition. It was not too bad here, but of course, there are always several guys selling fancy watches.



Lots of Porsches about. Classic Porsches are in high demand with prices of some models going through the roof. My best friend Peter is a professional classic car appraiser. A large part of this clientele also owns classic Porsche. The prices on some models are going up so quickly that he needs to revisit them twice a year to adjust the price for insurance purposes.

This is a 1955 Porsche 356-A. The 356 was Porsche's first real production car.



This is the, tuned, engine of an Alfa Romeo Giulia GT Scalino. It is the same engine block as I have in my Alfa Rome Spider. This one is fitted with high-compression pistons, special connecting rods, special carbs and a high-flow modified cylinder head.

My Spider engine produces about 110HP. This one is about 180HP.



Obviously, I have a soft spot for Alfa Romeo. This is a 1960 Touring 2000.



Something very different. A barnfind. A 1966 Cirtroen DS21 Coupe le Dandy. Only fifteen of these were built. Very rare and expensive. In this state, they are still asking Euro 185000 for it. I reckon you will need to spend that much again to get it in good order and roadworthy.



Some Aston Martins. The first one is this Victor. It was named in honour of Victor Gauntlet who at some point in time was owner and chairman of Aston Martin. It is a one-off model, sporting a 7,3 V12 Cosworth NA 836HP, 822Nm engine.



Next a DB4 series 2. Not to be sniffed at either.



Whereas Aston Martin makes a decent car, if you want something really special you turn to the Dutch of course Joop Donkervoort started cranking out Dutch Lotus 7 many decades in his farm in Loosdrecht. This day his son and daughter run a massive showroom/factory near Lelystad airport.



Again, a car that will never be mistaken for anything else. Bugatti.



This one was advertised as a Fiat Autobianchi, Nuova 500 Bianchina Giardiniera. Which is not correct as far as I know. The Giardiniera is seen Fiat 500 van. So this is more likely to be some replica. Nice, but not cheap. Eruo 49500



Another very nice Citroen, DS19 from 1963





These days at any car show there will be some racing simulators too!

[Jeroen]

Some very fancy Lambo's



According to Bentley, owning a used or second-hand Bentley is all about mindset.
So I asked them, I have the mindset for a second-hand Bently, but not the wallet.

They were not amused. I told them to update their stupid poster! I hate that sort of idiotic PR stuff. The notion that lots of highly paid people have been meeting and debating this for days, if not weeks, and this is the outcome? ridiculous!



The show had a special on the 100 years Le Mans. I thought it was a bit disappointing. I don't think the cars displayed here were a good representation of 100 years of Le Mans.





Also, and maybe I am showing my age here. I hate these poorly lit displays. I don't need "atmosphere", I want to have a good look at everything. So please, next time light up the place properly!!





Some interesting Shelby's and Ford GTs!





Final and last image, some more Ferrari's



I spend about 3 hours going round the show. And 3 hours getting to Brussels and getting back home.

All in all, this is not a bad classic car show. But I would not rank it all that high. Although it aims at the high end of the classic car market, it is really let down by this awful exhibition centre. Which is very run down and in poor state of repair. poor facilities when it comes to restaurants, bars and so on.

I also felt there were not enough vendors selling car parts, models, tools and so on.

In general I do prefer more simple exhibition that concentrate on more affordable classic cars. So I doubt I will be coming next year. We will see.

Jeroen

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[V.Narayan]

Another delightful photo essay by Jeroen. Keep them coming.

[KPS]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Something very different. A barnfind. A 1966 Cirtroen DS21 Coupe le Dandy. Only fifteen of these were built. Very rare and expensive. In this state, they are still asking Euro 185000 for it. I reckon you will need to spend that much again to get it in good order and roadworthy.

What a beautiful car. Must a great sight on the road

Thanks for sharing

Cheers

KPS