BMW 2002 Turbo at Gallery Aaldering

Every car enthusiast in the Netherlands knows about Gallery Aaldering, whether from TV or their showroom in Brummen. Since its establishment in 1975, Gallery Aaldering has grown into one of the largest classic car dealerships in Europe. They’ve kept their garage in Brummen all this time, and funnily enough, that happens to be the town I grew up in. Nowadays, I live just a stone’s throw away.

So, whenever something new comes in that piques my interest, I know the way to their showroom. In this case, I spotted an original BMW 2002 Turbo had arrived, time to get up close and personal. This particular model is from 1975, coincidentally the same year Gallery Aaldering was founded.

The Ballerman Golf Mk1 nicknamed Flori

A car so clean it belongs in a museum, this is the VW Golf mk1 built by Jörg Ballerman. I’ve seen this car countless times over the years, but I understand why car shows are eager to show this car at their event. This time I spotted it at the recent Risenation event. It’s a stunning machine where everything, and I mean everything, has been replaced, improved, or chromed. The foundation is a Golf Mk1 that rolled out of the VW factory in 1987 in Mexico Beige with a 1-liter engine.

Jörg acquired the car in 2002 with 95,000 kilometers on the clock, and that’s when the work began. It’s clear that things got out of hand. Every bolt and nut has been chromed, along with a plethora of other parts. We’re talking about brake calipers, exhaust, fastening clamps, and the list goes on.

The Levella Mercedes Benz 190e x C32 AMG

The Mercedes Benz 190e 2.5-16V EVO 2. They seem to pop up quite frequently, but you won’t find one for less than $250,000, at least according to Bring a Trailer. The latest auction on there was on March 13th, and the highest bid reached a whopping $370,000, which still wasn’t enough for the seller.

Now, onto this particular specimen from Levella, a wheel manufacturer in Germany. With the increasing demand for the Mercedes Benz 190e 2.5-16V EVO 2, it’s no surprise that replicas are hitting the market. You can now even buy a full EVO 2 body kit for your standard 190e. I’m not sure if that’s the case here, but what I do know is that you won’t find the 4-cylinder 2.5-16V engine under the hood. Instead, there’s a 3.2-liter V6 sourced from a much newer C32 AMG.

BMW M3 Touring but make it CSL by Evolve

The most exciting new car in recent years has got to be the G81 BMW M3 Touring. A car that enthusiasts have been clamoring for finally became a reality in 2022 and has been a big hit for BMW ever since. If Instagram is to be believed, they’re flying off the shelves like hotcakes. One of the customers who got their hands on it last year was Evolve Automotive from England.

Now, as is customary with Evolve, they’re not leaving anything stock. Their plan is to turn it into a BMW M3 Touring CSL version. It’s not just about looks; they’re incorporating genuine CSL components. You can follow the build on Evolve’s own YouTube channel.

LB-Super Silhouette RX-7 at Essen Motor Show

One of the greatest designs from the madlab that is Liberty Walk. Making a Rx7 look like a JGTC car is no small feat especially on a road car. But this kit just flows so well with the original body lines. A special mention needs to go to the livery designers at Blackfish Graphics, they nailed the design.

Does the perfect BMW 3-series E30 excist?

When is something perfect? Only the one who claims something is perfect can answer that. If you ask me, it’s a car where I can’t find a single thing I’d do differently. That’s exactly how I feel about this BMW E30. If I say that this one car alone was reason enough to attend the Risenation Hall of Fame show, well, that says it all, I reckon. Years in the making, getting cleaner, lower, and after who knows how many new sets of wheels later, this is the end result.

Built by Damiano Di Viesti over many years. The car was bought brand new by his father back in 1990. Back then, Damiano was just a little 11-year-old lad. The car is still owned by his father, but Damiano has taken over control and made it his own. I bet not many folks can say a particular car has been in the family for that long. What I love most about this project is that it keeps the original lines of the E30 intact, no widebody or other alterations, just the way BMW intended it.

The car rolled off the production line as a BMW 316, but now it’s got a 1.8 liter engine under the hood. And it’s got a little boost from a compressor out of a newer model Mini Cooper S. Don’t expect earth-shattering numbers from the engine, but with a weight of 1065kg, it’s an absolute joy to drive. Plus, the entire engine bay has been cleaned up, with all the unnecessary bits removed or tucked away.

In the category trash one and keep one

As I strolled back to my car from the Risenation event in Mechelen, Belgium, I stumbled upon this combo. Instantly, my mind starts racing, pondering which car I’d most love to take home. Now, this decision wasn’t as straightforward for me as you might think. I have a soft spot for youngtimers, and this Toyota Supra JZA80 certainly falls into that category. But then again, a Nissan R35 GTR in what appears to be Millenium Jade might just be the smarter choice for a daily driver.

Speaking of the color of the R35 GTR, it got me thinking – could it possibly be a T-Spec? After all, they do come in this color. But I digress; we were discussing which one I’d choose. I reckon I’d have gone with the Nissan to take home. How about you? Which one would you pick?

Audi 80 on steriods at Risenation Belgium

Who would have thought, a good looking Audi 80. From your dad’s car in the late eighties to a stunning example with all the right bits. From the period correct Kamei frontlip, the louvres in the rearwindow and the custom 3 piece wheels.

But what really sets it off is the fitment, the arches sit perfect on the outer lip of the wheels.