BRUSSELS TURNS THE CLOCK BACK

A big Porsche party and huge display dedicated to 1958’s motoring stars made this event a hit with classic fans on both sides of the Channel

Ahuge Porsche presence, including a display of ten 356s to mark 70 years of the manufacturer’s first model, managed to overshadow even the Brussels-themed flagship display at this busy three-day show.

With backing from Porsche Classic, dealers and private classic collections from across the Benelux countries, the 356 display managed to bring in some truly significant examples of the Stuttgart sports car, including a 1961 356B Roadster originally bodied in Brussels by coachbuilder D’Ieteren and a specially-bodied 356SL. The exhibit was flanked by Porsche Classic’s own stand and numerous specialists catering for the rear-engined classics.

The other big draw at the Brussels show was a 22-strong display of vehicles made in 1958 in honour of the year that the Belgian capital hosted the World’s Fair. Exhibits included an MGA, Oldsmobile 88 and an Opel Rekord, and were joined by historic motorcycles, scooters and commercial vehicles.

While the displays across Brussels Expo’s four halls were unashamedly focused on dealers and specialists, there was also a special area given over to clubs, curated by the Fédération Belge des Véhicules Anciens (FBVA) – the Belgian counterpart to the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs. Star attractions included the Brussels Classic Car Club, whose three-car stand included a 1965 Triumph Herald Convertible originally assembled in complete knockeddown form in Belgium, the Belgian section of the Jaguar Drivers’ Club, which showed off a 1973 E-type Series 3 and a 1986 XJS-C, and the Belgian Mustang & Cougar Club, which displayed three Mustang convertibles.

If you love seeing classics that don’t often pop up at the UK’s events, then it’s well worth keeping your diary free for next year’s event – with the indoor halls less than an half hour away by metro to Eurostar connections to the UK, it’s perhaps not surprising that plenty of accents overheard in the 23,000-strong crowd this year were British.

Interclassics’ next show takes place in the Dutch city of Maastricht on 10-13 January.

’The 356 display brought in some truly magnificent examples’

Interclassics’ 22-vehicle flagship display paid homage to 1958, the year in which Brussels hosted the World Fair. Cars from that year taking part included this MGA. The best classic club display prize went to this 1972 BMW 2002, shown by BMW Bavaria Club Belgium members.

Dutch classic specialist, Alphons Ruyl’s 13,000-mile 1975 VW Scirocco was snapped up on the show’s opening day.