Volkswagen Lupo: The Pocket Rocket Reborn

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.

Static Porsche 993 Turbo: Stance Machine

The owner of this 1997 Porsche 993 Turbo has been around the scene for quite some time. Perhaps his most famous build, and certainly one of my personal favorites, is his Carbon RWB Porsche 964. But at Heaven on Wheels, he decided to bring another one of his incredible projects. And there he let me in on a little secret: this 993 is actually for sale. So, if you’re in the market for something truly special, you know who to call.

At first glance, I could have sworn this Porsche was sitting on air suspension. But no—what you see here is its actual ride height. That impossibly low stance has been achieved with a set of H&R coilovers, courtesy of K-custom GmbH. The body has been expertly dropped over a set of 19” Gemballa Turbo S wheels, with the rear tires measuring an absurd 315/25.

Subaru Forester: The Accidental Dream Build

I think I speak for all of us when I say that at some point, we’ve all toyed with the idea of buying a sensible daily driver just so we can focus on wrenching away at our beloved project car. It’s a foolproof plan—until it isn’t. More often than not, that so-called “daily” ends up getting modified, and before you know it, you’re knee-deep in not one, but two full-blown projects.

Enter this Subaru Forester 2.0 S-Turbo, spotted at Heaven on Wheels in Anderlecht, Belgium. The owner originally picked it up as a practical runaround, allowing him to tear into his Subaru Impreza Wagon build without worrying about being stranded. But, as it so often happens, love has a funny way of rewriting plans. The Forester quickly stole his heart, and the parts he’d been stockpiling for the Wagon started finding their way onto his newfound obsession.

McLAREN F1 GTR LONGTAIL #42: LE MANS 1997

Few cars capture the imagination of motorsport fans quite like the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail, and among them, chassis #42 from the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans stands as an icon of speed, engineering, and drama. A machine built for endurance, piloted by legends, yet fated to a heartbreaking retirement—this is the story of one of McLaren’s most memorable endurance racers.

By 1997, the McLaren F1 GTR had already cemented its status as a dominant force in endurance racing. However, rule changes meant McLaren needed to evolve, giving birth to the Longtail variant. This version featured a significantly extended rear bodywork to enhance aerodynamic efficiency, better high-speed stability, and improved downforce. It retained the raw power of its BMW S70/2 6.1L V12 engine, capable of producing around 600bhp, but was further refined for the grueling challenge of Le Mans.

Lancia Delta Integrale Evo2 – The Perfect Build

Can a car be so good that it deserves a second feature? Well, since you’re reading this, I’ll take that as a yes. 😉

I first came across this Lancia Delta Integrale Evo2 Formula Edition at Ultrace last year, and it stopped me in my tracks. The deep Blue Lord paint, the aggressive stance, and the Work Meister S1 wheels imported all the way from Japan. The trend of JDM wheels on Euro cars continues. It was love at first sight.

For many, poster cars are machines like the Ferrari F40 or a Lamborghini Countach. But for me? This was the car. The history, the WRC dominance, the countless special editions—everything about the Delta Integrale makes it a legend in its own right.

RX-7 with Zimax Power: Ultimate Wangan Racer

When we launched Speedhunters back in 2008, our goal was to showcase car culture in its broadest form. But if there was one scene the world couldn’t get enough of, it was Japan’s. One article that stuck with me from those early days was by our Japan editor, Dino Dalle Carbonare, covering a dark blue Zimax Mazda FD RX-7. A true Wangan racer, it featured a full RE-Amemiya body kit and a side-ported 13B rotary built for high-speed highway runs.

So you can imagine my surprise when, at the Risenation event, I stumbled upon an almost identical RX-7 but in white. The resemblance was uncanny, but there was one key difference: the suspension setup and wheels. For the show season, the owner Craig, opts for air suspension, but when it’s time to hit the track, the air ride is swapped out for PCR coilovers with Bestex springs. Everything else underneath? Pure performance.

The Ultimate Ford Escort Cosworth by RS-Tuning

The Ford Escort RS Cosworth shouldn’t need an introduction. If, like me, you’ve been obsessed with cars for as long as you can remember, this rally-bred legend has, at some point, held a firm spot in your top three must-own cars. Fast forward to 2025, and prices are only heading in one direction—up. A well-kept example will now set you back a cool €80,000. Those who got in before the hype? Sitting pretty.

But here’s the thing some people don’t care about the skyrocketing values. Some people just want to build their perfect version of an all-time great. And honestly? That’s exactly the kind of passion I respect.

Enter Árpád Lakatos of RS-Tuning in Hungary. In his eyes, he’s created the ultimate Escort RS Cosworth. And looking at the result, it’s hard to argue. The first thing that grabs you is the stance—the car sits impossibly low, thanks to a fully custom-built airride setup. No off-the-shelf system exists for this car, so Árpád and his team had to develop their own, opting for a Grinds air management system to control it all.

Forever Classic – BMW E30 That Stole the Show

“Forever Classic” – the air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror says it all. And honestly, truer words have never been spoken. The BMW E30 is an icon, a car that refuses to age, a machine with a timeless presence that can be built and modified in countless ways. During the Risenation Hall of Fame event, I stumbled upon this particular E30, which had made the trip all the way from France. It wasn’t perfect—not by a long shot. But it had something. An aura. The kind of presence that drew a constant crowd throughout the day.

Now, most people would probably opt for the two-door version. It’s the more popular choice, the poster car. But personally, I think the four-door has the better proportions, especially when you lower it just right. Something the owner, Ryan, has absolutely nailed. Sitting on air suspension, the E30 tucks down beautifully, with its fender lips landing perfectly on the polished lips of a stunning set of OZ Futura wheels.