Ickx stars at InterClassics Brussels

Back to its best

Following its COVID-enforced break in 2020, InterClassics Brussels bounced back from 19-21 November 2021, reprising its usual pre-Christmas slot in the European classic car calendar – and it did not disappoint.

Belgian Formula One race victor and six-time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx was the star of his home city’s classic extravaganza, as the event marked his 75th birthday.

But that wasn’t the only anniversary being celebrated in Brussels…

The main man

As expected, Jacky Ickx was the star attraction and proved a hit among showgoers who gathered to hear the Belgian motorsport legend talk.

The former F1 and sports-racing champ was surrounded by some of his career-making cars including a spectacular Porsche 956. 

Tribute to a motorsport icon

The area dedicated to Ickx wasn’t hard to spot, and the organisers had assembled an impressive line-up of machinery to reunite with the man himself.

These ranged from Alfa Tipo 33 sports-racer to Citroën CX rally car, Ford Mustang historic touring car to Ford GT40, along with a gaggle of Porsches including the Paris-Dakar 959 in which he came second in 1986.

Some of you might have realised that Ickx is actually 76 – this tribute was planned for the 2020 edition of InterClassics Brussels, before the pandemic forced its cancellation. But it was a party not to be missed.

Le Mans legend

Of all the cars honouring Ickx’s career, this was surely one of the biggest showstoppers: the Rothmans-sponsored Porsche 956 in which he scored his sixth and final Le Mans victory, back in 1982.

In fact, that year the car was so dominant that it achieved a podium lockout, with Ickx scoring victories at La Sarthe, Brands Hatch, Fuji, Kyalami and Spa.

Fan favourite

But while racing fans swooned over the cars, such as this Ferrari 312 B2 in which he won the 1972 German Grand Prix, it was the chance to see, hear and meet their famous countryman that proved the ultimate attraction for many visitors.

Meet and greet

Ickx was kept very busy at the popular autograph-signing session.

Everything from posters, helmets and scale models to the nose of a Formula Junior monoposto racing car was brought in for him to write on.

Boutsen’s back

It wasn’t quite all about Jacky Ickx… Three-time Formula One race-winner Thierry Boutsen, who is from Brussels, appeared at the show alongside the Arrows A9-01 he campaigned in the 1986 season.

The Officina Caira stand displayed three F1 cars including the Copersucar F5A-03 driven by Emerson Fittipaldi in 1978-’79.

More candles to blow out

We promised you more anniversaries, so here’s another: 65 years of racing marque Elva.

The display included the rarely seen Elva-Porsche and Elva-BMW, as well as the recently introduced McLaren Elva, plus its predecessor and inspiration, the Elva-McLaren Mk1a.

Again, this showcase was originally planned for InterClassics Brussels 2020 – Elva was founded in 1955.

Friends reunited

The history of Elva is intertwined with that of another great British racing name: McLaren.

Production of early McLarens was outsourced to Elva and in 2020 this relationship was renewed with the launch of the new McLaren Elva, the lightest McLaren to date.

Just 399 examples of this extreme two-seater with a carbonfibre chassis and body, but without a roof, windscreen or side windows, will be built – and it is even quicker than the McLaren Senna.

Pocket-sized classics

It wasn’t only full-sized classics that InterClassics Brussels visitors could enjoy.

From rare 1:1-scale machinery to miniatures in all shapes, sizes and colours, there was something for every taste and budget.

Flower power

Back to full-sized cars and Volkswagen seemed to be playing to the current theme of staycations with its stand that, alongside a classic Beetle, featured a collection of campervans.

The eye-catching, flower-covered 'Splittie' with a yellow pop-top roof was sure to draw visitors in from across the show floor, and it was joined in the display by later 'Bay window' and T25 examples of the marque's legendary 'Bulli'.

Stop and stare

Rarities are always part of the attraction at InterClassics Brussels, and this Alfa Romeo is a case in point.

From the sleek spats enclosing its rear wheels to the tapered cabin, it is clear this 6C-2500 SS is something special.

It is an aerodynamic prototype from 1940 and was for sale on the stand of Belgian dealer Mecanicimport – and if you have to ask, you definitely can’t afford it.

Aesthetically pleasing

The Art Area at InterClassics was packed with exhibitions by automotive-themed artists.

And, inevitably, there was another Jacky Ickx link… His daughter Larissa, an artist, put on a display in co-operation with another artist, Edu Danesi. The star attraction on the stand was a Porsche 911 targa in the colour scheme of her father’s crash helmet and adorned with texts about the Ickx family.

Garage goals

Both dealers and, in hall nine, private individuals were able to sell their classic cars at November’s Belgian extravaganza.

Packed with choice, two standout cars were a Hungarian-registered Lamborghini Espada and this Porsche 718 RSK replica.

Awards o’clock

On the show’s opening day, the InterClassics Brussels Awards were revealed.

The accolade for best pre-war car went to a 1939 Lagonda V12 on the Historic Competition Services A Naud stand, while a 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 bodied by Stabilimenti Farina and brought along by Marreyt topped the ’40s and ’50s category.

A 1960 Ferrari 250GT Drogo, a 1971 Ferrari Daytona and a 1986 De Tomaso Pantera GTS won the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s classes respectively, with a 2002 BMW Alpina Z8 crowned the best youngtimer. The 1961 Jaguar E-type in the Rock & Roll Classics display was considered the best restoration in the model’s 60th-anniversary year.

A lot to take in

This Lotus Europa Twin Cam was not short of attention, its double-striped paintwork doing its job and pulling people in.

With a 45,000 square metre exhibition space, around 400 stands and approximately 25,000 attendees, you have to do what you can to stand out…

Catching your eye

This colourful and highly modified 1968 Honda S800 coupé was further evidence of the diversity on show for visitors to November’s InterClassics Brussels.

Purposeful yet at the same time wonderfully sweet. It was wearing a €30,000 price-tag and was shown alongside a roadster variant and a bare backbone chassis.

The countdown is on

After a triumphant return, full of gratitude for being able to come together once more, the curtain has fallen on the 2021 show.

Sadly, organiser MECC has announced that the Maastricht edition of InterClassics, due to be held in January, has had to be postponed for a third time and new dates will be announced soon, but the seventh edition of InterClassics Brussels is already being planned and will also be held at the Brussels Expo, this time from 18-20 November 2022.

To find out more, just click here.