PRESS INFORMATION
Now in its twenty-third year the Antwerp Classic Salon is all set to be the best event yet.
The theme for the 2000 show is "100 years of the Belgian Automobile Industry" and will feature some of the most outstanding and beautiful cars ever built. This display will include Ford, Porsche, Standard, Studebaker and such rarities as Métallurgique, Minerva and Nagant.
Some of the cars featured at the show will include :
1907 Métallurgique type 60/80 that produces 100 hp from its 4 cylinder 9.9 litre engine giving it a top speed of over 100mph. A Nagant 35/40 hp from 1909 fitted with a 6.8 litre 4 cylinder engine and chain drive. Two manufacturers representing Belgium in competition were Excelsior and Minerva both of which participated at Le Mans. The Excelsior on display is from 1922 and is fitted with a 5332 cc engine that produces 110 hp. Of the two Minervas on display one is a 1929 type 32 with a six cylinder 5954cc engine with looks similar to a Bentley sports of the same period and the other is a very elegant 8 cylinder model that goes under the name of Type 40 AL Towncar Convertible Carrosserie de Grand Luxe D’Leteren Frères. Other Belgian manufacturers on display will include Germain, Pipe and Sava.
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Belgium was also the home for many other manufacturers including Ford, Porsche, Standard and Studebaker. Ford opened its factory in Antwerp in 1922 and produced the Model T of which a 1926 example is on display. From 1949 comes a 6 cylinder Custom Sedan. The Ford factory is now located a few miles away in Gent and it has produced over 450,000 Mondeos that have been exported to 150 countries. Porsche built some of their 356 models in Belgium from 1950 and the 356B Roadster from 1960 is one of them. In 1947 Standard started production of the Phase 1 Vanguard and as well as being built in Belgium they were also produced in India and Switzerland. American car imports to Belgium started in 1918 and assembly plants followed in the late twenties. One of those companies, Studebaker, produced the Commander Regal Deluxe Sedan from 1950 that is on display.
Nearly three hundred and fifty exhibitors from fifteen countries will be offering classic cars, motorbikes, spare parts and services at Antwerp. Nearly fifty companies from the UK will be present including dealer Geoff Forty. Spare parts suppliers will include Rimmer Brothers and Stevson Motors. Literature collectors will be catered for by Chaters and Artco, while Automobilia dealers such as Michael Chapman and Owen Parkin will be in attendance. Around 2 kilometers of stands will feature new and used parts, accessories, interior trim, rare literature, automobilia, models, curiosities and art objects, all with the theme of vintage and classic cars.
One section that will appeal to some of the new enthusiasts of classic cars will be the hall with a selection of cars for sale under BF400,000.
The Antwerp show is the prime event for many Belgian clubs and they produce some outstanding displays in their pursuit of prizes in the National Club stand and Concours d'Elegance awards. Sixty five clubs will create some very professional stands in their efforts to secure first prize in the competition which is BF50,000!! In addition to judging the club stands the international jury will select the best cars from the 300 offered by the dealers for prizes in four categories. The prize-giving will take place at 12.00 on Sunday 5th March.
Opening times : Friday 3 March14.00 - 19.00
Saturday 4 March 9.00 - 19.00
Sunday5 March 9.00 - 19.00
Admission prices : Adult BF 350 Children (under 11)Free
Senior citizensBF 300 CatalogueBF 40
Press conferenceFebruary 21 at 11.00
Radison SAS Park Lane Hotel
aan de Van Eycklei 34
B2018 Antwerp
Tel +32 3 2858585Fax +32 3 2858586
Further information can be obtained from Mark Charles on 01932 351640 or from the organisers office at the show on (tel) 0032 3 2485029 (fax) 0032 3 2484995.
Further information on this show and our other events can be obtained from our Internet site which is www.ciltd.co.uk
Travel information
Distances by road from channel ports are :(Miles) Dover 150, Ostend 80, Hook of Holland 100, Rotterdam 110. The nearest airports are Duerne (10 mins) and Brussels (30 mins).
Ferry bookings
Discounts have been negotiated with ferry companies for the following routes:
Dover - Calais, Harwich - Hook of Holland, Hull - Rotterdam, Hull - Zeebrugge and Eurotunnel. For prices/bookings contact Travel Destinations Ltd - Tel 01707 329988 Fax 01707 330300.
23rd ANTWERP CLASSIC SALON
NUMBER 1 IN BENELUX
FORECAST FOR 2000 : 34,000 VISITORS
Themes :1.Show attraction "100 years of the Belgian automobile
industry.
2.Vintage and Classic car sales showroom with 450 cars.
3.Vintage and Classic car tuning.
4."Better than new" presentation from international and
professional restoration companies, old and new spare
parts.
5.Tuning and restoration advice for seventies classics.
6."The goldmine for collectors": old and new spare parts,
automobilia, art, literature, accessories, and services.
7.Exhibition stands from clubs and museums.
100 Years of the Belgian Automobile Industry
at the
23rd Antwerp Classic Salon
Belgium - World Champion in Automobile production
At the beginning of the 20th century the automobile was making its mark in the industrial countries of Europe. The Belgian automobile industry was in its infancy but quickly the ingenuity of Mors and Mathis was recognised and their engines were being fitted in the chassis of several other manufacturers. The Belgian industry accelerated quickly and by the time of the "Automobile Salon" of 1907 there were 20 manufacturers. Their commercial activities were soon developed and by 1914 Belgian manufacturers had exported cars world-wide including Australia, Britain, New Zealand, South Africa and Latin America.
In 1918 imports started arriving from America through Le Havre. This was the beginning of a tough period for the economy as exports dropped from 1919 to 1929. In 1920 there were 12 Belgian manufacturers and ten years later there were only three. However Excelsior and Minerva found popularity in the British and American markets and in 1927 Minerva sold more than 2500 examples of its 6 litre AK model. The production of companies like Métallurgique, Nagant, FN and Imperia was too small to ensure their success.
Due to a low rate of import duty the American manufacturers secured a foothold and in 1921 1,653 cars were imported to Belgium. However the tax was increased in 1926 but so as not to lose their market General Motors opened an assembly plant in Antwerp and by 1929 had produced 24,000 cars.
The twenties were a tough period for the American manufacturers on their home market and so they were keen to export. At the 1931 Brussels "Auto Salon" there were 30 American car companies. This competition from America and from France and Germany took its toll on the Belgian industry and the following year there were only 5 manufacturers left. Imperia managed to last until 1949 and Minerva until 1956 by which time it was producing off-road vehicles.
Ford, General Motors, Studebaker, Standard-Vanguard, Volkswagen, Renault, Volvo and Chrysler have all helped to make Belgium one of the leading automobile producers in the world with 12 cars per 100 inhabitants. The next closest being Japan with 8 per 100 and Germany with 7 per 100.
Here at the 23rd Antwerp Classic Salon is a special presentation of the Belgian automobile :
BELGICA - DASSE - EXCELSIOR - FAB - FN - GERMAIN - IMPERIA - JANSSENS - JENATZY - LINON - MATHIS - METALLURGIQUE - MIESSE - MINERVA - NAGANT - PIEPER - PIPE - SAVA - SPRINGGUEL - VINCKE - VIVINUS - WILFORD - BORGWARD - BUICK - CADILLAC - FORD - GENERAL MOTORS - PACKARD - PORSCHE - RENAULT - STANDARD - STUDEBAKER - TRACTION-AVANT - VOLKSWAGEN - VOLVO
