Abarth Works Museum gets new name: Squadra Abarth & Rally Collection
Squadra Abarth & Rally Collection
Squadra Abarth & Rally Collection should become the meeting place for car enthusiasts. The revamped museum will have 175 cars on permanent display in 5,000 square meters of exhibition space. It will be a vibrant hub for classic and rally car enthusiasts, including an extensive library, a workshop where vintage cars are repaired and restored and where visitors can also tinker with their vintage cars themselves. There will also be a cozy bar for snacks and drinks.
Meeting space
In addition, Squadra Abarth & Rally Collection will be a perfect place for rally stops and club outings. At the same time, Squadra will also be the place to meet, for meetings and to host B2B events in a cool setting, as the museum gets a cool look.
Accessible to all
“The core of our collection revolves around the work of Carlo Abarth, but you can admire a wide range of makes here, including Fiat, Saab, Simca, Lada, Lancia and even Porsche. The focus is on rally cars; we want to show visitors that rallying is accessible to everyone, not just the elite. With Squadra, we show our love for Italian cars, teamwork and team sport, while Collection links to other collections and sectors. In the future, we want to organize themed exhibitions and make connections with other sectors such as art,” says Jeroen Nys, son-in-law of founder Guy Moerenhout, who took over Collection in 2020.
Family business
The museum is run by Cosmo de Candia, well known in the region as the former owner of restaurant Cosmo in Boechout. With his Italian roots, catering experience, passion for cars and experience with start-ups, he brings a lot of knowledge and energy. Moreover, the museum is a real family business: Vicky Van Broeck, wife of Jeroen Nys, is responsible for everything to do with events, hospitality and PR. Eric Vlaisloir, Jeroen’s brother-in-law, is responsible for the workshop and the buying and selling of cars and parts, together with a team of four experienced technicians.
Guy Moerenhout gets his own exhibition
Guy Moerenhout, although officially retired, remains active as an expert, guide and the face of the museum. He will even have his own exhibition in the museum. Finally, Let Van Rompuy, Jeroen’s mother, is happy to lend a hand. In short: a family project!
