Discovering the Marvel of a 1969 Mercedes-Benz

My trip to Ultrace this year was one of pure wonder. Never before had I seen so many high-quality builds gathered in one place. Each car left me more amazed than the last, with so much beauty that it was sometimes hard to know where to look. Yet, one car stood out above the rest: this 1969 Mercedes-Benz W108 by Martin Szombierski. The inspiration behind this build was immediately clear to me.

It harkens back to the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG race car, which gained fame in 1971 when it finished second overall at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. That race car earned the nickname “Rote Sau” (Red Pig) due to its massive size and red paint.

In Martin’s modern interpretation, the red is nowhere to be seen, but the headlights and other details are direct nods to the 1971 beast. Like the wheel arches which have been widened by 200mm, perfectly accommodating the custom-made 19-inch Mercedes-Benz Designo wheels.

VIP Scene Emerges: Toyota LS400 Shines Bright

The VIP, or “Bippu,” scene in Europe is still in its infancy, with enthusiasts looking to the OGs in Japan—the birthplace of the term—for inspiration. The formula is straightforward: take a large Japanese sedan, lower it with air ride suspension, and add a set of shiny wheels. It sounds simple, but like dining out, there’s a vast difference between Michelin-starred restaurants and a fast food restaurant.

The owner of this 1992 Toyota LS400 has followed the VIP recipe to perfection, creating a stunning VIP build that he showed off at Ultrace. The car originally came in black—a solid choice for a VIP build—but the owner decided to go beyond the standard. The car now boasts a two-tone paint job: the upper part in a shade resembling Millennium Jade, and the lower part in silver. The silver striping that ties the two colors together is a particularly elegant touch.

A body kit is essential in this scene, and it can make or break the look. The kit on this LS400 is the Evolution Total Systems V1, a rare find but a perfect match for the car. The custom LED taillights, made in collaboration with a friend, add another layer of uniqueness.

One of a Kind Hyundai Pony at Ultrace 2024

What can I say about Ultrace that hasn’t already been said? It’s a true gathering of the best Europe and beyond have to offer. But ultimately, this show thrives because of the people: the visitors and the car builders. This year, builders came from all corners of the globe, including South Korea. The team known as Peaches brought their Hyundai Pony Drift car to the show.

Peaches is a fusion of cultures, blending fashion and automotive passion. With a store in Seoul and a strong online presence, they’re busy taking the world by storm. While photographing the car, I ran into an old friend, Larry Chen, with whom I had worked during my time at Speedhunters. He was filming a YouTube video, giving me the chance to take a closer look at the car’s interior.

The Hyundai Pony isn’t a car you’d typically associate with drifting, which might be exactly why Peaches chose this platform. For Koreans, the Pony is a workhorse, often used as a taxi or a first car for learning to drive. However, very little of the original car remains. Everything has been modified to create a competitive drift machine.

Taifun-Converted E30 M3: Love It or Hate It?

A BMW E30 M3 with a Taifun headlight conversion? That’s sure to raise a few eyebrows. This bold build comes courtesy of the folks at Lowmolewerkz in Germany, who opted for this unique conversion. Taifun originally produced the kit, though they are no longer in business, making authentic kits hard to come by. Nowadays, many replicas are available.

Despite extensive online research, there’s surprisingly little information about this particular car, even though it’s been part of the scene for years. What I do know is that under the hood lies a six-cylinder engine from a newer E36 generation. This leads me to believe it’s not an original M3 but a converted E30. It’s similar to the Mercedes-Benz I posted about yesterday, where a standard car is transformed into a top-tier model. Here too, the conversion is done so meticulously that it’s hard to tell the difference at first glance.

The car also features a set of BBS RS wheels, painted in a sort of pistachio color to match the car. The wheel faces have been polished to a shiny finish after painting—a small detail with a big impact. Then there’s the suspension; an Air Lift Performance controller in the interior indicates an air ride system.

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.

Classic Revival: Lancia Delta Integrale at Ultrace

Is there a more beautiful car than the Lancia Delta Integrale? Spotting one is rare these days, so imagine my delight when I saw not one, but two at Ultrace. This particular model immediately caught my eye with its deep dark blue paint and stunning 17” silver Work Meister S1 wheels. A perfect combination!

The car has been fully restored by its current owner, who shuns social media. This was a nut-and-bolt restoration, meaning the car was completely stripped down, meticulously refurbished, repainted, and reassembled. Parts for a car like this are no longer stocked at your local Lancia dealer, so the owner had to scour far and wide to find the right components to restore it to pristine showroom condition.

The end result is a magnificent example in the color “Blue Lord.” The owner didn’t stop at just restoring the car; he also found areas for improvement. The most noticeable modification is the lowered suspension, achieved using a specially developed KW Competition coilover kit. This setup is complemented by a Gepfeffert HLS kit, allowing the car to be raised or lowered at the push of a button—very handy for navigating those pesky speed bumps at the end of the street.

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.

Ultrace 2024: A First Timer’s Journey

Honestly, I had no idea what to expect since this was my first time at Ultrace. But one thing is certain: it far exceeded my expectations. Late Thursday night, I set off from the Netherlands, heading towards Wrocław, Poland, the home of Ultrace since its inception. After a nine-hour drive, I arrived on Friday, and, unable to check into my hotel just yet, I went straight to the event at the Tarczyński Arena Wrocław.

Finding a parking spot, I headed to the press registration center. Luckily, the good folks from Revworks were there to guide me in the right direction. With my press pass and camera in hand, I stepped onto the grounds, and what I saw blew me away. I was literally overwhelmed, spending the first hour just gaping at everything that was already in place.

Friday is the day when the last cars are positioned, and the organizers put the finishing touches on everything. The event officially opens at noon on Saturday, so Friday offered a perfect opportunity to acclimate, especially with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius.