Some classic car shows impress with scale, others with exclusivity. Antwerp Classic Salon 2017 managed to balance both. Celebrating its 40th edition, the Belgian event transformed Antwerp Expo into a meeting place for collectors, restorers and enthusiasts, with a distinctly Italian flavour running through the halls. The star of the show was clear from the beginning: “70 Anni Ferrari, La Passione”, a tribute marking seventy years since the presentation of the first Ferrari, the legendary 125 S.

Unlike larger international exhibitions where supercars can sometimes feel detached behind velvet ropes, Antwerp’s Ferrari display felt refreshingly personal. Around fifteen cars from private collections, curated together with Ferrari Club Belgio, told the story of Maranello before modern excess took over. Early grand tourers, elegant V12 machines and unmistakable icons from the brand’s golden decades stood side by side, reminding visitors why Ferrari became more than a manufacturer — it became mythology. The emphasis on pre-1979 cars gave the exhibition a welcome sense of authenticity.

Among the highlights were classics from the 250 and 275 series, cars that still define automotive beauty decades later, alongside more aggressive poster heroes such as the Ferrari Testarossa, whose unmistakable shape continued to attract visitors all weekend. Seeing these machines gathered in one space felt less like a showroom and more like an automotive timeline.

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But Antwerp Classic Salon 2017 was not exclusively about Ferrari. A second Italian celebration brought a lighter, more playful atmosphere: the 60th anniversary of the Fiat 500. Displayed by Fiat Club Belgio, the exhibition traced the evolution of the tiny city car from the original Nuova 500 to later variants, including some unusual coachbuilt interpretations that added personality to the display. After rooms filled with V12 Ferraris, the humble Fiat somehow felt equally important — a reminder that automotive history is shaped not only by dream cars, but by machines that moved everyday Europe.

Outside the official themes, the real pleasure of Antwerp remained the unexpected discoveries. Hidden among dealer stands were beautifully preserved classics from every corner of the automotive world: a dramatic De Tomaso Pantera L, elegant British roadsters like the Austin-Healey 3000, rare pre-war machines including a striking 1936 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster, and smaller curiosities such as the compact Honda S800 Coupé and vintage BMW sedans. It was the kind of event where you walked in searching for one thing and left remembering something entirely different.

What made Antwerp Classic Salon stand out, however, was its atmosphere. Despite attracting exhibitors from across Europe and more than 350 participants, it never felt overwhelming. Conversations happened naturally between owners, dealers and visitors, and every stand seemed to have a story attached to it.

Below is a brief photo gallery. Follow our Twitter account for additional images #antwerpclassicsalon.