Wheels Mariënwaerdt | Concours d’Elegance

This year, for the very first time, I ventured into the glorious madness that is Wheels Mariënwaerdt. Not as a professional, mind you, no clipboard, no press pass, no mission. Just me, my two eldest kids in tow and a camera Why? Because every time I say I’m off to a car show, they ask, ‘What do you actually do there?’ So this was the perfect chance to show them.

And what a show it was. They even snapped a few photos themselves, budding petrolheads in the making, clearly. But let’s talk about Wheels Mariënwaerdt. What is it, really? Imagine a place where automotive dreams collide: from the most elegant classics that smell of leather and nostalgia, to the freshest, most futuristic beasts on four wheels. The highlight? The unveiling of the Bugatti Brouillard on Dutch soil but more on that in a separate post.

In short: something for everyone, and everything for someone who loves cars. Bloody brilliant.

As you can see, this wasn’t just a car show it was a full-blown automotive buffet. Right from the moment we parked, we were surrounded by Lamborghini’s. Not just one or two, but a whole herd of them, courtesy of the Lamborghini Club Nederland, who clearly decided subtlety was overrated.

But wait it gets better. Nestled among the supercar royalty was a Volvo 242, sitting pretty on Work VS-KF wheels. Yes, a Volvo. On Japanese split rims. It’s the kind of thing that makes you question everything you thought you knew about Scandinavian restraint.

Gallery: VW Team Brabant Event 2024

Time to reflect on the VW Team Brabant event, which saw a record number of cars and an unbeatable, friendly atmosphere. What I loved most was seeing the blend of generations coming together. The old guard with cars they’ve owned for decades, constantly finding new ways to tweak and improve them. Then there are the newcomers, soaking in all the beauty around them, and in between, you’ve got a group rolling up with fresh, new projects. A prime example of the latter is Ricardo Kruijf’s Golf Mk1, which we’ve already featured in a spotlight.

We also had some special guests from across the channel, with a group from England making an appearance. You can immediately tell that the bar is set high over there. A standout example? The guys from Grounded Original. I’ve had these cars in front of my camera before, and yet, they still manage to command an unreal level of attention.

Absolute Motors’ Tribute to the Iconic Audi RS2

In the realm of Audi, the “RS” badge is synonymous with the pinnacle of performance within each model line. Almst every Audi model has its own RS variant, with the Avant versions, such as the RS4 and RS6, being particularly popular. During my pilgrimage to Ultrace in Wrocław, Poland this year, I encountered this stunning RS6 built by Absolute Motors. This specimen hails from the latest, fourth generation, the C8. The RS Avant lineage traces back to 1994, when the Audi RS2 Avant made its debut.

The Audi RS2 Avant was the first to bear the RS designation and was launched in the legendary Nagaro Blue color. This car and color have since achieved iconic status among Audi enthusiasts, including the team at Absolute Motors. Their Audi RS6 pays homage to the RS2 in several meticulous ways.

Starting with the exterior, it’s resprayed in the signature Nagaro Blue, directly referencing the original RS2. The car is outfitted with an upper rear wing, lower side sill extensions, a lower front bumper apron, and a replacement rear diffuser, all sourced from Urban Automotive and finished in carbon fiber. A subtle detail not to be overlooked is the RS badge at the rear, styled after the RS2’s emblem but updated to RS6, complete with a nod to the original Porsche collaboration, but more on that later.

A Newfound Appreciation for the Audi TT RS

I’ll be honest: I’m not a huge fan of many new-generation cars, the so-called new-wave models. The same goes for the Audi TT, a car that never really caught my interest. That was until I came face-to-face with Erik van de Meer’s Audi TT RS at Royal Fitment. Parked prominently in front of the hotel, it was impossible to ignore.

After passing by it several times and noticing a growing crowd, my curiosity got the better of me. As with many such cars, the magic lies in the details, and this TT RS boasts an abundance of details all in carbon fiber.

The foundation is a 2019 Audi TT RS in Tango Red, model code 8S, one of the latest generation. Under the hood sits a 2.5-liter TFSI five-cylinder engine. With a stock output of 400 hp, this is no longer a sheep in wolves clothes. While the engine remains stock for now, Erik is already gathering parts for a Stage 3 upgrade.

Audi Ur-Quattro test car from PON Automotive

When it comes to many classic cars, it’s all about the history and provenance. Often, you’ll come across a fairly ordinary car, but it’s the story behind it that makes it truly remarkable. That’s certainly the case with this Audi Ur-Quattro bearing license plate GL-79-XB. You see, this happens to be the first one registered in the Netherlands by Pon, the Volkswagen and Audi importer for the country. Naturally, that makes it particularly enticing for collectors.

Back in those early days, this car served as a test car for the press, so you’d often spot it in the magazines of that era. All the journalists back then were absolutely gushing over its performance and the pioneering 4WD system, better known as Quattro, which Audi has since become synonymous with.

It’s precisely these tales behind the cars that make it enjoyable for me to delve deeper than just the exterior appearance of the car. I spotted the car in the cellar at the Gallery Aaldering in Brummen, a place in which you never know what you might find.

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.