Subaru Forester: The Accidental Dream Build

I think I speak for all of us when I say that at some point, we’ve all toyed with the idea of buying a sensible daily driver just so we can focus on wrenching away at our beloved project car. It’s a foolproof plan—until it isn’t. More often than not, that so-called “daily” ends up getting modified, and before you know it, you’re knee-deep in not one, but two full-blown projects.

Enter this Subaru Forester 2.0 S-Turbo, spotted at Heaven on Wheels in Anderlecht, Belgium. The owner originally picked it up as a practical runaround, allowing him to tear into his Subaru Impreza Wagon build without worrying about being stranded. But, as it so often happens, love has a funny way of rewriting plans. The Forester quickly stole his heart, and the parts he’d been stockpiling for the Wagon started finding their way onto his newfound obsession.

Forever Classic – BMW E30 That Stole the Show

“Forever Classic” – the air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror says it all. And honestly, truer words have never been spoken. The BMW E30 is an icon, a car that refuses to age, a machine with a timeless presence that can be built and modified in countless ways. During the Risenation Hall of Fame event, I stumbled upon this particular E30, which had made the trip all the way from France. It wasn’t perfect—not by a long shot. But it had something. An aura. The kind of presence that drew a constant crowd throughout the day.

Now, most people would probably opt for the two-door version. It’s the more popular choice, the poster car. But personally, I think the four-door has the better proportions, especially when you lower it just right. Something the owner, Ryan, has absolutely nailed. Sitting on air suspension, the E30 tucks down beautifully, with its fender lips landing perfectly on the polished lips of a stunning set of OZ Futura wheels.

Gallery: A Tribute to BMW: The Best of Ultrace

While on assignment for another publication, I found myself looking at photos from BMW’s at this years Ultrace event, still the highlight of the year when it comes to top-tier car builds. The sheer number of BMWs on display was staggering, so much so that I decided to create a dedicated gallery for the Munich marque.

If you’re not a fan of BMW, this post might not be for you. But for everyone else, consider this a tribute to the Bavarian brand in all its glory.

Check the entire gallery below!

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.