Now that the InterClassics Brussels 2019 is only a few days away, it is high time to catch up with another long lost post, my favourites from last year. The InterClassics is the prime classic car show of the BeNeLux with a Dutch event in January in Maastricht and a Belgian one in November in Brussels. The latter one started only a few years ago but up really fast, becoming one of my favourites in the past few years.
Every InterClassics sports a special halo theme to honour a particular brand or thematic. The fifth edition of InterClassics Brussels will pay tribute to five of the most legendary car designers in history. The organisers promise a unique collection of classic cars designed by Pininfarina, Bertone, Zagato, Touring and Ghia on display during this year’s InterClassics Brussels. In addition to the main theme, the 100th anniversary of Bentley will also be in the spotlights as the exhibition’s second theme. I already witnessed a couple of time what an incredible show the Belgians can conjure for a brand, and with fresh memories from Autoworld’s current Zagato exhibition, I have quite high expectations for this year’s event. Last year’s themes are explained in this article:
Now is the last chance to catch up with the rest of the show, before this year’s InterClassics starts. The thing I like the most about Belgian classic car world is the balanced approach to all major automotive nations.
Although US may not have the strongest representation, the trio of three Ford GTs dressed in Gulf livery did steal the show.
There was also an impressive line-up of Ford Mustangs, in various colours and specifications.
I also liked a lot the Porsche race car that featured all three legendary Porsche liveries: the Truffelhunter, the factory tricolour and the Rothmans(ish, given the ban on tobacco ads, oops did I say the brand out loud? : ) ).
France is quite well represented every year, although the real golden age of the French luxury car industry is out of the range of small and medium collectors, the postwar cars in the sub 500.000 EUR range was quite well represented.
And for the connoisseurs, a Facel Vega was awaiting high stakes bids at the stage of Bonhams.
When you say hot hatch it really means something here. I saw two rear-wheel drive Clio V6, and homologation Renault 5 turbos, but it was the first time for me to see a homologation street version of the Peugeot 205 rallye car, this time it boasted with an open hatch, showcasing its technology.
The region is a true Mecca for fans of Italian cars. Interclassics already honoured Lancia as primary theme of its Maastricht exhibition, earlier this year.
Owners brought many unique masterpieces, like the Hyena, a small series production based on the Delta. The car is actually a local one, as it was called to life by a Dutch Lancia importer, Paul Koot, who wanted to relaunch the tradition of the Italian coachbuilders.
Zagato was chosen for the project, honouring the success of the Alfa Romeo SZ and RZ. Unfortunately, Fiat did not prove to be that enthusiastic, and without the helping hand of the factory, the project did not prove viable, and only a few dozen cars were built, each requiring the dismantling of an already build Delta Integrale to be retrofitted with the Zagato body.
Another rare car was the Iso Rivolta, a luxurious coupé introduced in 1962 by Iso Automotoveicoli. Company chairman Renzo Rivolta and his colleague, former Ferrari engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, designed a gran turismo in the original sense of the term, designed for long and memorable journeys. For motor racing, however, the car was homologated not as a GT but as a touring car.
British cars were also quite well represented, with as many wheels as it takes (a few dozen more below from Jag, Aston and less known brands like Morgan or Lister).
Of course Germany had its limelight as well, not just the several dozen Porsche specimen, but quite a few nice ones from Merc and BMW. 
Yet to my surprise, VW was among the most featured brands at the show thanks to a dedicated stage.
The InterClassics 2019 will open its gates tomorrow and I am lookign forward to see the stages.
