Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Another BMW ’02?” But hold your horses, because this one isn’t just another ’02 with patina and a roundel. No, this is a masterclass in contrast. From a 1502 with more patina than paint, to a fully restored, OEM+ styled machine that looks like it rolled straight out of a Bavarian fever dream.
The owner? He’s not just a fan, he’s a full-blown BMW whisperer. Paul Gebbink restores classic Bimmers in his spare time. But pop the bonnet, and it becomes immediately clear: this one’s gone several steps beyond your average Sunday project.
One of my favorite cars at the recent Retrospective by Revworks event was this BMW 1502. It had that little something that grabbed me. The owner bought this car two years ago. It was not the kind you’d find in a showroom with a smug salesman and a cappuccino machine. No, this one came with rust, questionable welds, and the faint smell of regret. Naturally, the owner loved it as car lovers do.
Since then, it’s been through more metalwork than a Viking sword. Everything’s been re-welded that needed it. Other improvements include a new set axles that have been swapped out for those from a turbo model. Because the ones the car came with were beyond repair.
Sourcing parts for this thing is like trying to find a polite cyclist in Amsterdam: technically possible, but wildly unlikely. Every bolt, bracket, and miscellaneous parts has been a battle. But the owner persevered. Stabilizers have been added, a roll cage now snakes through the cabin, and strut bars brace the chassis like it’s preparing for that final race of the season.
Starting a new car event isn’t exactly like assembling IKEA furniture. It’s not for the faint-hearted, the indecisive, or anyone who thinks a torque wrench is a cocktail. But thank the petrol gods, there are still brave souls out there who dare to stir the pot in an already overcrowded Dutch automotive landscape. Enter Retrospective by Revworks, a celebration of cars that have been around for at least 25 years and still have more character than most modern hatchbacks.
The masterminds behind this glorious chaos? My friends from Revworks. For years, they’ve been laying the groundwork, brick by oily brick, and this event is their pièce de résistance.
Last year’s debut was a roaring success. But pulling off the same trick twice? That’s like asking a Ferrari F40 to behave in traffic. And yet, somehow, they did it. Again. With a storm looming on the horizon, literally, enthusiasts still flocked to Brielle, braving the elements to bask in the glory of chrome, carburetors, and cars that actually have a soul.
Last year, Bimmerfest 2024 had us basking in glorious sunshine, the kind that makes you believe a convertible is always a good idea. This year? Not so much. The sun, it seems, had other plans. Instead, Raceway Venray served us up a delightful mix of wind, intermittent downpours, and the kind of skies that make you question every life choice that led you to put on your best Air Max 1s. But, as true BMW enthusiasts, we soldiered on and between the showers, Bimmerfest once again delivered a feast for the senses (and a workout for your umbrella if you had one).
Arriving at the legendary oval of Raceway Venray, it’s impossible not to be gobsmacked by the sheer steepness of the banking. It’s like walking across the side of a cliff in sneakers—grippy shoes are absolutely essential unless you fancy falling down in front of a crowd of amused car geeks.
It’s easy to assume that the most jaw-dropping builds are tucked away in garages, polished to perfection and wheeled out only for summer shows and Sunday coffees. But every now and then, a car comes along that breaks that mould. A build so clean, so dialled in, that you’d swear it’s a showpiece. But it isn’t, the owner uses his car as a daily driver. I Spotted this BMW E30 at the Royal Fitment show this year and couldn’t keep my eyes off of it.
Sitting pretty on custom BBS E50 wheels, stepped up from 15 to 17 inches, this car nails the OEM+ aesthetic with ruthless precision. The wheels tuck effortlessly under the arches thanks to a fully integrated Airlift 3P air suspension system, offering both head-turning stance and everyday practicality. Whether you’re gliding through traffic or laying frame at a weekend meet, the setup adapts on the fly and it’s all controlled at the touch of a button.
Entering Vink Motorsport, a Zaandam-based workshop renowned for its BMW race car restorations and new classic builds. The first car that caught my eye was the Team Eggenberger Motorsport BMW E28 that clinched the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) in 1982. At the season’s start, BMW faced new Group A regulations, rendering the earlier Group 2 635CSi unsuitable. Thus, the newly introduced BMW E28 528i was chosen to compete.
Partnering with Switzerland’s Eggenberger Motorsport, BMW developed a kit to transform the E28 for Group A touring car racing. To meet the 1,035kg weight limit for its engine class, the car had all unnecessary components removed. Furthermore, its inline-six engine was expertly tuned to produce nearly 240hp, up from the production model’s 180hp.
Left-hand-drive Nissan Skylines from the factory are rare. Like, “finding-a-Walkman-in-a-2025-Apple-Store” rare. But a genuine Dutch-delivered 1971 Nissan Skyline GC10 2000GT sedan, with four doors. That’s rarer than a unicorn moonwalking across the Veluwe.
According to its new custodian, Carlo de Grundt this is one of only three left-hand-drive Hakosuka sedans left in the Netherlands. “Hako” means box in Japanese, and “Suka” is shorthand for Sukairain. Yes, Skyline. Don’t feel bad if you had no idea Skylines were officially sold here. We didn’t either. Apparently, around 40 of the HGLC10-series 2000GTs and 2400GTs were sold new in the Netherlands, mostly the bigger-engined 2400s. But this one? According to the papers, an original 2000GT.
And it was a proper barn find. Tucked away indoors for two decades, waiting for someone to bring it back from the brink.
Carlo first stumbled across this crimson 2000GT online back in 2011. “I found photos and started digging. I knew it still existed somewhere in the Netherlands” he recalls. The trail went cold until 2014, when Jan Manenschijn, a Nissan dealer from Daarle, and owner of the largest Datsun collection in the country, posted a familiar photo on Facebook. There it was. The long-lost 2000GT. Jan, having just completed restoration on his own Belgian-market 2000GT, decided one was enough. That was Carlo’s cue so after a phonecall he made the trip to Daarle and bought it.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the Volkswagen Lupo. It was VW’s answer to the growing demand for small, fuel-efficient city cars. And while that demand still exists, modern cars just seem to keep getting bigger. The Lupo even had a GTI version, but its most famous variant is arguably the 3L TDI, the first production car to sip less than 3 liters of diesel per 100 km.
The Lupo I stumbled upon at Heaven on Wheels had been given a serious makeover. The exterior was smoothed to perfection, and thanks to an air suspension setup, it now sits significantly closer to terra firma. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to track down the owner, so I can’t provide all the juicy details. But one thing’s for sure, this isn’t your average city car.
