At the end of 2024, Autoworld Brussels traditionally goes full throttle once again: while it was Porsche's 75th anniversary in 2023, the theme at the end of 2024 was "Maserati 110 Years". After InterClassics Brussels had already taken on this theme last month, the presentation at Autoworld was sure to be exciting. First of all: even if there inevitably had to be similarities in the selection of significant models, Autoworld, in collaboration with its partners, once again succeeded in creating a remarkable exhibition.
The company's eventful history makes it obvious to take the respective owners of Maserati as a guide. And so the Autoworld also presents the respective stages, starting with the early era of the Maserati brothers through to today's "Stellanti era", each with typical models. The exhibition will show visitors 50 Maserati cars, twice as many as at InterClassics Brussels 2024. As always, the exhibits will be accompanied by information in three languages.
A billboard spanning the entire width of the hall in the upper exhibition area, the Herman de Croo Plaza, also illustrates the company's history in chronological order. Of course, visitors will also find relevant films and showcases with model cars and Italian music playing in the background.
The Maserati exhibits range in time from the Tipo 26 M racing car from 1928 to the current GranTurismo 110 Anniversario from the anniversary year 2024. In addition to racing cars from all eras, there are of course luxury sports cars (Gran Turismo) and sporty limousines on display. Motorcycles are also part of Maserati's company history, but are not included here.
The tour begins with the smaller part of the exhibition on the first floor. Here you will find a mixture of classic and modern. The Maserati 4 CLT 48 from 1949 with a retrofitted Osca V12 engine and a Maserati 250 F from 1954, the model in which Juan Manuel Fangio became Formula 1 world champion for the fifth time in 1957, are reminiscent of the brand's earlier days.
A Tipo 61, also known as a "birdcage", from 1961 is also not missing. Here, one would wish for X-ray eyes to be able to take a look under the body panel at the eponymous tubular lattice frame. The sight of the Tipo S 63 V12 Serenissima with its martial exhaust system at the rear, somewhat reminiscent of the pipes of ship cannons, makes up for this.
The modern era of the Maserati brand is represented by the GranTurismo GT4 (2011), MC12 (2014), Trofeo Light (2017), MC 20 (2021) and, in addition to the aforementioned GranTurismo Anniversario, a current GT2 Stradale. Just a few meters behind it, visitors are surprised by a circular ensemble of five sports cars from different manufacturers and a motorcycle, all painted red. As expected, one of the cars is a Maserati, namely a 1992 Barchetta.
Let's now climb up to the mezzanine, to the larger part of the special exhibition. Incidentally, there are hardly any red cars up here, but rather a variety of colors. First of all, you come across the light/dark blue Maserati A6 GCS Berlinetta Pininfarina, which has just won the "Best of Show" title at the Brussels InterClassics. On the left are four Maserati racing cars, starting with the aforementioned Tipo 26 M from the early days of Maserati.
Otherwise, a wide range of cars from the brand with the trident are exhibited here, which represent the respective periods of the company's history in units of mostly five vehicles. The overall view shows that all the renowned Italian designers of the post-war period have immortalized themselves in the design of Maserati sports cars.
In addition to the aforementioned Berlinetta by Pininfarina, versions by Allemano, Frua and Zagato can also be seen from the A6G series of the 1950s. The later 3500 GT and Sebring series is represented not only by a Spyder from Vignale, but also by the 5000 GT, which was developed from this series but positioned clearly above it and was once created on the initiative of the Iranian Shah M. Reza Pahlavi. Visitors will find the Maserati Ghibli both as a Spyder and as a Ghibli SS Coupé.
Also worth mentioning is the Maserati Kyalami 4200 from 1982, which marked the beginning of the "Alejandro de Tomaso era" at Maserati. The Quattroporte I to III models and a Frua prototype are lined up on the right-hand side of the exhibition. Right next to it and as a counterpoint to the A6 GCS Berlinetta Pininfarina, the "Alfieri" concept car from 2014, which was created for the company's 100th anniversary, is presented to great effect as a prime example of new brand design.
Depending on their preferences, visitors to this major anniversary show are sure to discover much more, such as the red Maserati Mexico from 1967 or two Maserati Mistrals, both of which are a year younger and one of which still needs significant attention as a restoration object.
All in all, visitors can expect a remarkable exhibition, which should also be of interest to families, as there is also plenty of informative entertainment for the youngest visitors. In the permanently rearranged Autoworld Brussels, there is always something to discover in addition to the special exhibitions. For example, the Maserati Khamsin, the coupé with the "glass trunk"...
Further information on the "Maserati 110 Years" exhibition, which can be explored at Autoworld Brussels until February 23, 2025, can be found on the museum's website.
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