The new year is only a few days old and we already had to visit the traditional first classic car fair of the year in Maastricht. This year's offering was particularly lavish, as it was taking place for the 30th time in 2025 and this should be duly honored.
Over 800 cars were once again on display on 35,000 square meters, flanked by the industry-typical accompanying trade and the "SIM-Formula" competition, which is to be neglected here. Auction houses and classic car museums were also represented.
However, unlike usual, visitors were involved in the design of this year's Classic Car Show in advance: firstly, the public's favorites from the respective previous special exhibitions were determined. These were then also largely presented at this year's special exhibition, with comments from the public. On the other hand, the absolute public favorite was also chosen: A dark gray Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta from 1960, which also adorned the current exhibition poster and was therefore prominently displayed in the special exhibition.
As usual, the quality of the other exhibits was top class, if not even exceeding expectations. There was certainly no shortage of genuine rarities. Two rare Ferrari F 40s and two rare Jaguar XJ 220s were on display, as well as two Wiesmann roadsters, one of which was a prototype.
There were plenty of rare French classic cars, not least some Facel-Vega and very special variants of the Citroën ID/DS series. The range of Italian classics was particularly plentiful in the upper price ranges. For example, you could have opted for an Alfa Romeo Montreal in red, orange or light green.
An early Puma GT with a DKW engine from Brazilian production was truly exotic, and the comparatively young cars Fisker Karma or MG XPower SV are also not often seen at motor shows.
The best of the best
Just like a few days earlier at the sister trade fair in Brussels, there were once again titles to be won in Maastricht. Here is a selection: "Best of Show" went to a Tatra 87 from 1941; the Steyr 220 Cabriolet Gläser from 1939 placed directly next to it was hardly less interesting and was named "Best Prewar Car".
A prototype of the Porsche 902, from which the 912 later emerged, won the title of "Best of the Sixties" and a very well-preserved Fiat 850 Coupé from 1970 was named "Best Preserved Car".
Once again this year, there were interesting club stands in the annex of the Südhalle. The stand of the Fiat 124 Sport Spider Register, which deservedly won the "Best of Club Presentation" award, was outstanding. It used a large picture of the 16th century Villa Barbaro in northern Italy as a backdrop to commemorate the 45th anniversary of this club.
Top-class new supercars and hypercars were also on display at the Classic Car Show Maastricht. Fans of classic cars are likely to have seen this as a stylish addition to the classics. After all, when else do you get to see a Koenigsegg Jesko Attack?
Something for everyone
Let's start our little tour with the special show mentioned at the beginning, which comprised 21 exhibits. Based on visitor votes, the best vehicles from previous exhibitions were gathered here, which made for a top-class cross-section.
There were two "movie cars", namely the Ford Mustang "Eleanor" from the movie "Just 60 seconds" and the Aston Martin DB 5, James Bond's company car with "useful accessories for secret agents".
There were also stylistic features to discover: the characteristic gullwing doors of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, of course, the strict wedge shape of the Lancia Stratos and the "comb rear" of the Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ.
The phalanx of racing cars ranged from the Amilcar C6 from 1928, the Bugatti T 35, the Veritas 315, the Talbot Lago T 26 C, the Aston Martin DB3 works racing car, Maserati A6 GCS 53 Spyder and Ford GT 40 to the typical black and gold Lotus John Player Special 87 from 1978.
There was also an AC Cobra, BMW 507 and Porsche Carrera 2.7 RS, as well as the elegant Alfa Romeo 6 C 2500 Villa d'Este and the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II Cabriolet. Last but not least, there was the aforementioned Ferrari 250 GT SWB, which was joined by a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder.
The range of vehicles was attractive and wide-ranging in all segments. In the price range up to 20,000 euros, for example, there was an Autobianchi Y 10 for 4,900 euros, a Jaguar XJ 3.2 for 8,950 euros, a rare Fiat 850 Coupé Vignale for 13,950 euros, a Peugeot 404 for 14,500 euros and a DAF 66 for 15,500 euros.
A Golf III GTI, a Porsche 924 Turbo Targa, an Alfa Romeo 146 ti, but also a Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC, a Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG and a Mercedes-Benz CLK 320 with only 35,000 km on the clock were just below the 20,000 euro mark, which already leads to the group of cars with a low odometer reading.
A Lancia A 112 was virtually new and the award-winning Fiat 850 Sport Coupé had only 5500 km on the clock. A BMW Z1 with only 4,658 km or a Z3 with 8,800 km would also have been available.
However, an Alfa Romeo 8C Spyder with only 13,430 km would have cost 275,000 euros, while the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, which has never been registered, would have cost as much as 450,000 euros.
This upper price segment also included a Jaguar XJ 220 for 625,000 euros and two Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona for 660,000 and 695,000 euros respectively.
Visitors could have made difficult decisions even with significantly less capital. For example, there was a 1941 Willys Overland Jeep converted to 12 V for 31,900 euros, but a Jeep Wagoneer Station Wagon could also have been purchased for 37,500 euros.
Or would you perhaps have opted for the outwardly immaculate Jeep Cherokee for 34,500 euros? Would an MGB GT V8 restomod for 72,500 euros have been more attractive than an original MG RV8 for 39,900 euros? Admittedly, these were just mind games.
One had the impression that the organizers and exhibitors had made a special effort to present outstanding exhibits in this anniversary year. This was also rewarded, as the organizer was able to report a new visitor record with 40,538 visitors.
