Revworks Retrospective: Ode to Petrol Fumes

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.

Now, I said this before, but it bears repeating: people buy a ticket, drive to an event, wander around, snap a few photos, and head home. What they don’t see is the Herculean effort it takes to make something like Retrospective happen. So here it is, once more, loud and clear: hats off to the Revworks crew. You’ve done it again, and we loved every second of it.

As for me? I’ll be back next year. No question. Retrospective has earned a permanent spot on my calendar. Right between “don’t forget oil change” and “try not to buy another project car.”

Let’s dive right in!

I recently did a full feature on this Skyline, but honestly I couldn’t resist giving it another moment in the spotlight. And can you blame me? Just look at it.

The best part? He drives it full blast. No trailer. No velvet ropes. Just rubber on tarmac, as it was always meant to be. What you’re looking at is a genuine, Dutch-delivered 1971 Nissan Skyline GC10 2000GT sedan. Yes, you read that right, Dutch-delivered. As rare as a polite BMW driver.

Under the bonnet? The standard engine is long gone. This beast has been completely rebuilt and now houses a glorious L28 F54 block, stroked to 3.1L. An inline-six masterpiece that sings the song of its people every time you touch the throttle.

Want te see more of this automotive unicorn? Here is the link. Click it. Drool. Repeat.

Last weekend, at Bonhams’ Goodwood auction in Sussex. A place where tweed jackets and champagne flutes meet horsepower and heritage something utterly bonkers happened. A almost identical 1992 Mazda RX-7 as the one pictured above, rolled across the auction block.

But this wasn’t just any RX-7. This was the actual RX-7 from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. And then came the hammer. Final bid? Over $1.2 million. Yes, for a Mazda. One-point-two. Million. Dollars. Somewhere, a Ferrari F40 just spat out its espresso in disbelief.

Mind blown? Same here.

Here’s another Skyline that absolutely deserves a mention. And I think it’s fair to say, without even flinching, that this might just be one of the finest in the Netherlands. Niels, the owner, hasn’t just built a car. He’s crafted a statement. Every detail has been obsessed over, polished, and perfected. The latest addition? A carbon front lip. But of course, in true Niels fashion, leaving it stock was never an option.

So what did he do? He had it partially painted in the car’s body colour. The top section, complete with air intakes, now gleams in silver, while the lower half remains exposed carbon. This isn’t just a car. It’s rolling proof that the Nissan Skyline R33 GTR, can look absolutely stunning.

Recognise this beauty? I first laid eyes on it last year at VW Team Brabant. It’s Ricardo Kruijf’s Golf Mk1, and let me tell you: it’s nearly finished. And by “nearly,” I mean it’s already looking like it rolled straight out of a tuner’s fever dream.

Now all that’s left is to take it for a spin. And honestly? I can’t wait.

Ah, the Nissan Skyline ER34. Just saying the name makes my inner car nerd misty-eyed. Around 20 years ago, I brought something truly special to Dutch soil: Ken Nomura’s actual D1GP drift car. Yes, that Ken Nomura. Yes, that D1GP. And yes, that ER34.

Back then, seeing a car like this sideways in competition was nothing short of revolutionary. It was raw, loud, and unapologetically Japanese. I toured with it for a few years, showing it off at events, letting people get a taste of what real drift heritage looked like.

Eventually, the car found a new home at Garage-D in England, where it’s still tearing up the tarmac as a full-blown drift machine. Proof that legends never die… they just keep going sideways.

There were plenty of Porsches at Retrospective, some loud, some low, some just plain lovely. But the one that really got my heart racing? This Porsche 964, sitting pretty on a set of 19″ BBS LeMans wheels.

The car belongs to Ron Huijzer, a well-known name in the VAG scene. And true to form, he’s left absolutely nothing to chance. It’s slammed to the ground thanks to a 100mm H&R Deep Coilover Kit, giving it that perfect stance. Aggressive, but still classy enough to make a 911 purist raise an eyebrow and nod in approval.

What you don’t see is just as impressive: carbon and chrome details tucked away in the engine bay, like hidden jewelry for those who know where to look. Every inch of this car has been thought through, fettled with, and finished to perfection.

Honestly, it’s about time we set up a proper shoot with Ron because this car deserves more than just a passing glance. It deserves the spotlight.

Another Porsche making serious waves lately? The 944. And this red stunner, owned by Willem van Zitteren, is a textbook example of how to do it right. Dropped to perfection on a set of BC Racing coilovers, it sits just right over a set of custom 17” BBS RS wheels. And not just any RS wheels, these come with floating red BBS center caps. Subtle flex? Absolutely.

A car I hadn’t seen before: a Golf Mk2 GTI Edition One Wolfsburg Edition. It basically means that the car is finished from factory in LC3U Schwarzviolett, a deep, moody shade of purple that looks black until the sun hits it just right. Inside? Blue Recaro seats and factory-tinted glass.

But then comes the twist. Owner Bart den Dekker clearly wasn’t content with “special edition” alone. Enter: a Rocketbunny/Pandem widebody kit that gives the car the kind of hips you’d normally only see on a touring car. It’s slammed on a Bonhof air ride system.

Currently, it’s rolling on a set of custom 16” steel wheels but I can’t help but wonder what this beast would look like on a set of 17s. And it’s not done yet. Bart’s still wrenching away, trying to get it even lower. The front air struts need to be dialed down a bit more, but hey, perfection takes time. And this one’s well on its way.

This. This is what it’s all about. The next generation of petrolheads, wide-eyed and revving with excitement. Brilliant to see that this event caters to all ages. I’ve seen kids everywhere, darting between modified cars like it’s their playground. The future of car culture? It is very much alive if you asked me.

I’ll be honest I haven’t got the foggiest idea about cars like this. It’s all shiny paint and rumbly noises to me. But the moment that bonnet creaked open, it was a different story. Nestled inside? A supercharged HEMI block, yanked from a much newer model. Maybe even a Dodge Charger… though, frankly, my knowledge about these cars packed its bags and left somewhere around 1998.

This Toyota Century belongs to a good friend of mine. A car quite literally fit for an emperor and no, that’s not hyperbole. These hand-built masterpieces don’t just roll into the garages of mere mortals. No, they glide their way toward dignitaries, heads of state and even the Emperor of Japan himself.

Under the bonnet? A silky-smooth V12, not bred for blistering speed, but for sheer serenity at motorway cruising. It doesn’t roar it whispers with authority. It’s a car that takes on the Rolls-Royce toe-to-toe, yet does it for a fraction of the wallet damage.

Add in an air suspension that glides like butter, bespoke wheels with floating center caps and you’ve got an automotive statement that’s more zen temple than four-wheeled transport.

Below you’ll find the rest of the gallery, don’t forget to click on them to see them full size.