Maastricht’s vibrant history and its situation at a crossroads of European cultures,
languages and trade routes lend it a unique charm and international flavour.
Dutch visitors to this most ancient, most European and most southerly city of the
Netherlands find Maastricht so un-Dutch that they feel as if they are abroad, while
foreign visitors tend to feel perfectly at home in its international atmosphere.
The saying that many roads lead to Maastricht (its population is currently about 123000
people) is borne out by the fact that year after year it is one of the top three conference
cities in the country.
Nestling where the borders of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet, Maastricht
is an undoubted beneficiary of the European integration process. Maastricht and the
MECC have hosted many top international conferences, the most notable of which
culminated in the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in1991 – the final countdown for the
appearance of the Euro.
The Maastricht Exposition & Congress Centre (MECC) is an ultramodern, dynamic
organisation that organises and provides accomodation for fairs, conferences and
major cultural and sporting events with superb exhibition facilities under one roof.
The twelfth international vintage, veteran and classic car show “InterClassics” was helt
in the rooms of MECC between January 11 – 13 and welcomed about 22500 visitors
and enthusiasts in total.
The MECC contacted the “Ferrari Club Nederland” six month ago to display Ferrari
automobiles as a special theme and the FCN said immediately: yes - we will go for it.
The response of club members and of Ferrari importer Kroymans was incredible – 46
Ferraris built between 1948 and 2001 were the result and have been presented on two
marvellous areals. Informations about each Ferrari (type, year of construction,
coachbuilder, s/n...) were given on small boards in front of each car - nicely done
indeed. Please find enclose two photogalleries and a detailed list.
I have to send my feeling of gratitude to Anthony Mark van Waay (president of “Ferrari
Club Nederland”) and to Nico P.H. Koel (for his support to make the FCN display
possible)
Visitors could find about 30 further Ferraris and Dinos spread over the large hall which
were presented by their owners or by classic car dealers for sale. The wide range of
types included cars like: 250 GTE 2+2 series III (s/n 4097GT) - 330 GT 2+2 series I (s/n
6415) - 512 BB (s/n 37239) - F 40 (s/n 77676) and a tuned Dino 246 GT (270 HP, Colletti
Gearbox, alloy doors & bonnet, sliding windows, s/n 6748)
Don't think it necessary to say that enthusiasts of other brands like Lamborghini (a
superb Miura), Maserati (a fully original 3500 Sebring S I, s/n AM 10101765), Jaguar,
Bugatti, Mercedes ...found many cars to admire.
As usual a wide range of stands offered Automobilia (collectors books, brochures,
badges, scales models and spare parts).
The three days of the InterClassics brought us a big surprise and a remarkable event in
the 2002 calendar, thanks also to the not named Ferrari owners.
We may looking forward to InterClassics 2003. The organisers and myself have to find
another theme and we are thinking about "Coachbuilders". Scaglietti, Pininfarina,
Boano, Touring, Zagato, Frua, Ghia, Bertone, Ellena, Fontana, Motto, Vignale....good
idea to bring a few Ferraris to Maastricht.
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