Since July, Autoworld-Brussels awaits visitors with a grand Alfa Romeo expo dedicated to the legendary Milanese brand. As usual, they also added a smaller temporary exhibition, this time for the fans of Belgian motorcycles.
The first podium by the entrance is dedicated to the defunct Belgian Motorcycle manufacturer Saroléa. The company was located in Herstal (near Liège), built a solid reputation worldwide throughout the prewar decades and also played an essential part in the (civilian and military) mobilisation of the country.
By the ’50s, things didn’t go so well, and a decade later, the company was acquired by Gillet, which had its own exhibition some time ago.
The exhibition follows through the brand’s history, with an international gathering of Saroléa motorcycles scheduled for 11 September and a new book.
We love Autoworld for its busy agenda for temporary exhibitions. This year, the Museum’s revolving door is spinning a little slower, but the exhibitions are still a treat. The real deals are the major exhibitions occupying the main gallery, and for this Alfa exhibition, Autoworld mobilised over 50 cars.
The press material speaks of the 112th anniversary, which led us to conclude that every day is a gift at Alfa Romeo… A more likely explanation is that Autoworld planned an extensive exhibition some time ago to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the brand. As this could not take place due to the height of the COVID19 pandemic, Autoworld now shots all the accumulated firecrackers. And what ammunition they gathered for the show!
The strength of this exhibition is not just in numbers but in quality as well. Autoworld enlisted an amazing fleet with the help of private collectors, the factory importer and many other museums.
Contributors included the Musée Nationale de l’Automobile (Mulhouse), private collectors like Corrado Lopresto, an Italian collector of unique cars and prototypes and well-known Alfa specialist, as well as Alfa Romeo (Stellantis) Belgium.
The new cars are parked on the ground floor, including a brand new Tonale, but we can’t help noticing the black car messing up a perfect green-white-red Tricolore. In fact, this is probably more Italian than a Tricolore… 😊
The main attraction is the gallery upstairs, showcasing dozens of historic models, sorted into several distinct podiums dedicated to themes like prewar period, race cars and concepts.
The press material highlighted iconic Alfas like the Giulietta Sprint and Spider, the 2600 Sprint & 2000 Spider, the Montreal, the Giulia Sprint GT Veloce, the ultrarare Spider Coda Tronca, the GT 1600 Zagato, the Giulia GT 1300 Scalino, the GT 1300 Junior, the 2000 GTV, several Alfasudand modern cars like the Giulietta Turbodelta, the Alfa 90, Alfa 75 2.5 QV, and Alfa 6. Just to list a few… 😊
We will provide some more photos and details in September, but for now, we will only present the single most mind-blowing one. The Musée Nationale de l’Automobile from Mulhouse contributed with one of their masterpieces, a gorgeous 1936 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900A.
This car is an ultimate prewar supercar, and its sister fetched 16,5 million euros at the Artcurial auction held during the Retromobile 2019.
The 8C’s lining was tailored at Pininfarina after winning the Mille Miglia the same year with Antonio Brivio and Carlo Ongaro behind the steering. Their success was not by chance; the entire podium was occupied by Alfas prepared by the Scuderia Ferrari.
This red Alfa may be prewar but seemed like a car from a different universe, thanks to its pop-up headlights fitted a few years later. This car steals the show everywhere, and this exhibition is no exception.
To round up the experience, the exhibition showcases die-cast models and dioramas. The little ones will be occupied with a Lego experience.
The exhibition will last until 28 August, so you still have time to catch up by the end of the summer holiday.
