Last year's anniversary edition of the Maastricht InterClassics had already set new standards. With the 31st edition of the traditionally first classic car fair of the year (January 15 to 18, 2026), the organizers were able to build on this and increase visitor numbers by a further 10% with 44,323 visitors over four days. The international classic car trade awaited them with a wide-ranging, high-quality selection of over 800 vehicles and the accompanying trade. Auction houses were present and the "SIM-Formula" competition was also held again.
Special exhibitions
This year, two outstanding special exhibitions, namely "Supercars" and "Legends of the rising sun", had to be accommodated. However, as the exhibition space of 35,000 square meters cannot be expanded at will, changes were unavoidable. For example, the side area normally reserved for clubs and private individuals was used as the "Super Car Foyer" and the nine participating automobile clubs were moved to the "Club Boulevard" next to it. Perhaps a more attractive solution will be found next year.
Let's start our tour in the "Super Car Foyer". Vehicles of the absolute automotive top class were on display here, which you will hardly see anywhere else and above all in this concentration.
Where else can you see cars like the Ruf SCR, Aston Martin DBR22 and Valkyrie, the "bird of paradise" Apollo IE or - as at the Esser Automotive stand - several Koenigseggs, including the four-seater Gemera?
It remains to be seen whether these extreme vehicles are called "super" or "hypercars". In any case, none of these cars are classic cars, but they were a welcome addition to the high quality standard of this trade fair, which in earlier years was still called "topmobiel" anyway.
Japanese in the center
The South Hall was dominated by the rising sun. After Autoworld Brussels, the Maastricht organizers had now also rightly given Japanese cars a forum with the "legends of the rising sun". Around two dozen vehicles were on display, including two motorcycles and two Formula 1 racing cars, namely a Jordan Honda EJ10 and the Red Bull Honda RB 19. Otherwise, the exhibits covered the full spectrum of Japanese automotive engineering.
Representing the "Kei class" was the always amazing AZAM AZ 1, followed by the Honda S 800 and Toyota Sports 800 and at the top end were the Nissan 240 Z, Honda NSX and Lexus LFA. Of course, the highly esteemed Toyota 2000 GT from the Louwman Museum was not missing.
Subaru's all-wheel drive vehicles - such as an XT turbo and an Impreza - were just as present as Mazda's rotary-piston engines, represented here by the early Cosmo Sport from 1967 and the RX 7 from 1981.
The Mazda 787 B, Le Mans winner in 1991 and the only winner with a rotary engine to date, was also present. Cars familiar from everyday life were also on display, such as a Toyota Celica ST from 1971 and the trendsetter Mazda MX-5 from 1989.
Of course also for sale
In view of the diversity, the dealer offerings can only be assessed selectively: presumably in view of the special show, a number of Japanese cars were on offer. But there was certainly no shortage of British and Italian cars or BMW vehicles either, whereas there seemed to be fewer pre-war cars on offer than usual. The lowest price on offer at the show was probably €7,000 for an unspecified Peugeot 403, while a Renault 5 Supercinq from 1992 with only 43,000 km on the clock was priced slightly higher at €8,500.
There would have been interesting alternatives in the price range up to €20,000. For example, a Citroën Dyane 6 was available for €11,950, while a rare Simca 1000 Coupé cost just a little more, namely €12,900. A BMW 1602 from 1974 was offered for €19,900 and a Toyota Celica, ten years younger, for €17,500.
For this price, however, you could have chosen between an Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider and a Trabant 601 S with only 82 km on the clock.
Colorful
An Autobianchi A 112 already offered at the last InterClassics Brussels was now significantly reduced in price at €14,900. A rare Opel Rekord B delivery van from Denmark or an Austin-Healey Sprite for just under €25,000 each, a Fiat 130 Coupé for €26,900 or a BMW 600 for €29,900 would have been available in a higher price category.
If you were prepared to spend even more, you could have chosen between Marco's Mantis GT for €59,000, a Honda S 2000, also on offer recently in Brussel, with assel for €62,500, a Honda S 2000 with just 6,825 km, a Honda S 800 Cabrio for €79,000 or a Datsun 280 Z for €76,500.
Anyone interested in an eight-cylinder Mercedes-Benz of the W 124 series would have had the choice between a 400 E for €23,500 and a 500 E for €49,000.
More expensive than a Lamborghini
We also discovered three Wiesmanns on offer, with prices ranging from €89,000 for an MF 30 Roadster to €292,500 for a GT MF 5. In addition to many "price on request" offers, there was also a Nissan Skyline R 34 V Spec II Nür in the upper to top price segment, which at €325,000 was more than twice as expensive as a Lamborghini Huracan LP 620-2 Super Trofeo.
For just under half a million, you could have taken the Lamborghini LM 002 off-road vehicle that once belonged to the Sultan of Brunei. Above it was a right-hand drive AC Cobra, which was offered at €875,000.
Once again, there were some rare cars on offer in Maastricht, for example Isuzu 117 Coupé, NSU Sportprinz, Glas 1300 GT, Aston Martin Lagonda, Stutz, Dual-Ghia Convertible, Talbot Lago 2500 Sport T 14 LS or Bizzarini.
Scarce commodity: kilometers driven!
Traditionally, cars with low mileage could also be found at this InterClassics, here are a few more examples: Almost a classic car was a Jaguar XK8 Coupé with only 20,803 km, which was offered for €39,500.
A BMW 316i Compact with 7,800 km mileage would have been available for €11,950, a Volvo 240 estate with 76,542 km was on offer for €28,500 and a Citroën DS 23 Pallas with 59,000 km was on offer for €58,500 - the list goes on.
High quality
And anyone strolling among all the automotive beauties might have wondered which vehicle would win the "Best of Show" title this time. The choice deservedly fell on an "Otto Vu", the Fiat 8V Berlinetta with a body by Pinin Farina from 1955. Truly an outstanding one-off, inspired by the design of contemporary Ferraris and designed by Aldo Brovarone.
This year's edition of Maastricht InterClassics once again offered a varied, high-quality range in a concentrated form. Once again, the special exhibitions were outstanding. InterClassics is an essential meeting place for the classic car scene and an indispensable part of the European trade fair landscape.
