Essen Motor Show’s Gem – The Perfect BMW E9

The Essen Motor Show 2024 is in full swing, and as tradition dictates, last Friday was all about hitting the autobahn to Germany for the show’s much-anticipated Preview Day. Once an exclusive affair reserved for press, exhibitors, and VIPs, Preview Day now offers early access to anyone willing to pay €10 extra. Predictably, this change has transformed what was once a quieter experience into a bustling start to the weekend.

For me, Preview Day is a mix of networking, catching up with familiar faces, and getting behind the lens to capture the cars. But let’s be honest: while the people and conversations make the event memorable, the cars are the real stars of the show. And one car that I wanted to see in real life, stole the spotlight for me this year—a breathtaking BMW E9 2800CS that didn’t disappoint.

When it comes to quality and sheer aesthetic appeal, this E9 was in a league of it’s own. Everything about it exuded precision and passion, from its stance to the meticulously crafted interior. This wasn’t just a build; it was a vision brought to life. What impressed me most was how the car retained the timeless lines of the original E9, a design so inherently beautiful it hardly needs enhancement.

VW ID. Buzz: The Only EV That Truly Stands Out

For me, the only EV that really makes a difference, purely on looks alone, is the VW ID. Buzz. We all know the Teslas by now, but every other brand seems determined to make their electric models so unattractive that no one would dare drive one for personal use. I’m exaggerating, of course, but you get my point. The ID. Buzz, even in its stock form, is a looker. But with the right modifications, like the one we’re featuring today, it becomes something else entirely.

Enter Jeroen Hendriks, the proud owner of the first VW ID. Buzz in the Netherlands to ride on air suspension. But there’s a lot more going on here than what first meets the eye. Irmscher, always quick to jump on a trend, developed a complete body kit for the ID. Buzz early on, and Jeroen? Well, he ticked every box on Irmscher’s order sheet.

Pair that with the extreme drop courtesy of a custom Airride setup from Bonhof, and you’ve got an ID. Buzz that’s turning heads at every event it attends. The wheel arches are fully filled out by a set of Vossen wheels, 22×9 inches in the front and 22×10.5 inches in the rear. But Jeroen let me in on a little secret: three weeks ago, he ordered a fully custom set of 22-inch wheels, and I can’t wait to see the final result once they’re mounted.

Retrospective Gem: A Rarely Seen Toyota Celica

At the Retrospective event by Revworks, I stumbled upon a Toyota Celica from 1984 that I had also spotted at Ultrace. While it wasn’t entirely new to me, it’s a car I know little about, simply because it’s the only one I’ve ever seen in person. This particular generation of the Celica GT Coupe was unfamiliar to me, just as it was to its current owner before he imported it from Germany. Gijs Spierings, a devoted enthusiast of 1980s cars, found this Celica in Germany and instantly fell in love with it.

In 2018, Gijs brought the car over and began a full restoration. But of course, the Celica wouldn’t be featured at Retrospective if it hadn’t been modified in some way. The most striking change is the addition of Advan A3E 3-piece wheels. These 14-inch wheels, with new barrels in 9 ET at the front and 10 ET at the rear, fit perfectly into the 1980s aesthetic.

The car has also been lowered, thanks to an Air Lift Performance 3P management system with a compressor and Seamless 5-gallon tank, along with custom OEM front struts and AirREX air springs built by StreetCustoms. To top it all off, Gijs added Auburn window louvers on the rear window and a front lip from a Toyota Cressida.

Reviving Legends: Mercedes 190E Evo II Replica

Lowering a Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II over a set of BBS wheels? I can almost hear the purists falling off their chairs. But fear not, this is a replica. And it’s so meticulously crafted that you can barely tell the difference from the outside. I spotted this gem at Ultrace, lined up with other classic models from the Mercedes-Benz catalogue.

These days, you can transform a standard Mercedes-Benz 190E into a true legend. A quick search for an Evo II body kit for the Mercedes-Benz 190E yields plenty of results on Google. So, if you own a 190E, the possibilities are endless. Genuine Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution IIs have become prohibitively expensive, which isn’t surprising given that only 502 units were ever made. If recent auction prices are anything to go by, they now fetch no less than €300,000.

Back to this well-crafted replica, the owner has added several personal touches. Most striking are the BBS LM wheels that fill the wheel arches nicely, thanks in part to the air ride suspension.

A Surprise Encounter with a Mercedes W114

At a recent Porsche event in Dinslaken, Germany, my attention was unexpectedly captured by a Mercedes-Benz parked in the outside parkinglot. I’ll be honest: I often struggle to identify these models at a glance. Fortunately, the license plate offered a helpful clue with “W114,” indicating this car’s model year from 1968 till 1976 also known as the “Strich-Acht” in German (slash eight). The “/8” designation refers to its introduction year, 1968. It also indicates this as a car with a six-cylinder engine, because the W115 version had 4 cylinder engines.

This particular model is the Coupé version, instantly recognizable by its absence of a B-pillar, giving it a sleek and elegant profile. But this wasn’t just any W114 Coupé. Equipped with air ride suspension and custom wheels, it made an unforgettable impression, evidenced by the crowd gathered around it in the parking lot.

The combination of classic design and modern modifications transformed this Mercedes-Benz into a show-stopper, blending timeless style with contemporary flair. It’s a perfect example of how classic cars can be reimagined to capture the attention and admiration of enthusiasts from all walks of life.

Owner; Mr. Robson

Slammed Alfa Romeo Giulia at Risenation BE

A car you don’t see very often, especially not like this one. The Alfa Romeo Giulia, according to the clover shield on the front fender this is the Quadrifoglio version. Meaning it has 520bhp from it’s 2.9 liter V6 engine. So it not only looks good but it can go head to head with its German rivals.

Wheels are from MDS Tuning in Germany.

Owned by Alessandro Mazzotti.