Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Another BMW ’02?” But hold your horses, because this one isn’t just another ’02 with patina and a roundel. No, this is a masterclass in contrast. From a 1502 with more patina than paint, to a fully restored, OEM+ styled machine that looks like it rolled straight out of a Bavarian fever dream.
The owner? He’s not just a fan, he’s a full-blown BMW whisperer. Paul Gebbink restores classic Bimmers in his spare time. But pop the bonnet, and it becomes immediately clear: this one’s gone several steps beyond your average Sunday project.
One of my favorite cars at the recent Retrospective by Revworks event was this BMW 1502. It had that little something that grabbed me. The owner bought this car two years ago. It was not the kind you’d find in a showroom with a smug salesman and a cappuccino machine. No, this one came with rust, questionable welds, and the faint smell of regret. Naturally, the owner loved it as car lovers do.
Since then, it’s been through more metalwork than a Viking sword. Everything’s been re-welded that needed it. Other improvements include a new set axles that have been swapped out for those from a turbo model. Because the ones the car came with were beyond repair.
Sourcing parts for this thing is like trying to find a polite cyclist in Amsterdam: technically possible, but wildly unlikely. Every bolt, bracket, and miscellaneous parts has been a battle. But the owner persevered. Stabilizers have been added, a roll cage now snakes through the cabin, and strut bars brace the chassis like it’s preparing for that final race of the season.
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.
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.
