Go see Jacky Ickx’s cars

The Interclassics classic car show in Brussels (November 19 – 21) shows a selection of cars of Belgian legend Jacky Ickx.

Jacky Ickx is probably the world’s most versatile driver, winning in Formula 1, sports cars, Can-Am and rally-raid… and we are forgetting some disciplines. The Interclassics show held at the Heysel exposition centre in Brussels, Belgium displays some of that talent through a couple of cars that marked the Belgian legend’s career. The display was originally planned as a celebration for Ickx’s 75^th birthday last year, but the event was postponed due to the covid-situation. A lot of attention is placed on Ickx’s Dakar career.

Citroën CX

The car with which Ickx discovered the Paris-Dakar desert rally in 1981, co-driven by French actor Claude Brasseur. The height-adaptable suspension of the front-wheel driven Citroën CX made it surprisingly competent. “We were in with a chance of winning, until our inexperience started working against us”, Ickx remembers.

The original car is lost, but a replica has been made and is on the stand in Brussels.

Mercedes G-Class

Again, a replica as the real car got lost soon after the 1983 Dakar rally. Again sponsored by Texaco, Jacky Ickx and Claude Brasseur returned to the Dakar rally in 1982. This time with a real 4×4, a Mercedes G-Class. 1982 did not bring them victory, so in 1983 they were back with a G-Class that was updated by the French Mercedes importer and in fact qualifies as a prototype. This time, victory was theirs.

Porsche 911 Dakar

Jacky Ickx was the one who persuaded Porsche to enter the 911 in the Dakar rally. Porsche replied it had to be with a four-wheel drive project. And Ickx was charged with running and financing the whole operation. Which he did successfully. Ickx only managed 6^th in 1984, but his teammate René Metge took the win on the Porsche’s debut.

And much more. Interclassics also zooms in on the history of Elva. More info here.