FYI: RevWorks, a Netherlands-based car community brand, recently hosted its premier event, RetroSpective, featuring over 25-year-old cars from various eras, blending classics with modifieds for an unforgettable experience.
RevWorks Debuts RetroSpective Car Show
RevWorks, the renowned Netherlands-based car community, held their highly anticipated inaugural major car show, RetroSpective. It was an event so noteworthy that enthusiasts drove over 700km (434 miles) from Germany’s Tief im Wald anniversary celebrations to attend in Brielle. I embarked on my journey from Oberhof at 8 am and reached Brielle around 3 pm, leaving me with just 90 minutes to capture the vastness of RetroSpective on film. It quickly became apparent that covering everything was an impossible feat, yet I endeavored my best.
A Brief History of RevWorks
RevWorks might ring a bell from our coverage of this year’s Secret Garage Meet 2.0 or their curated hall at the upcoming Amsterdam International Motor Show in 2024. Established in 2012, RevWorks draws inspiration from various automotive platforms and has become a significant entity in the European modified car scene. They have organized numerous events, including sub-shows within IAMS and 100% Tuning, their exclusive Secret Garage Meet, and the annual RevRun, a gumball-inspired three-day event traveling through the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg with around 70 modified sports, performance, and supercars.
Origins of RetroSpective
Although RetroSpective wasn’t RevWorks’ first event, it marked their first major car show. The idea was conceived in 2019 when the team envisioned a "RetroRun" to complement their 2020 RevRun, featuring cars over 25 years old moving at a slower pace and on a different route. However, due to global events in 2020, both these events faced postponement. Eventually, as the world returned to normalcy, so did RevWorks’ schedule.
Concept to Reality
The planning for RetroSpective began earnestly last year. The RevWorks team visited a museum/bar owned by two brothers, showcasing a remarkable collection of vintage Porsches, Mercedes-Benzes, and American muscle cars. The brothers expressed interest in hosting an event on their premises, and thus, the concept of RetroRun evolved into RetroSpective, a static show displaying cars over 25 years old.
The Event Highlights
RetroSpective featured an impressive array of vehicles:
- 1960s Hot Rods
- 1970s Lowriders
- 1980s Homologation Specials
- 1990s Tuners
Modifieds blended seamlessly with show cars, alongside intriguing performance vehicles from lesser-known tuners. Among the crowd favorites was an ’80s Strosek 930.
Additionally, the event saw appearances from unique and controversial creations such as the Liberty Walk Countach, fresh from Ultrarace 2024 in Europe, and one-off modified Ferrari F40 LMs known as the F40 Barchetta Bewleys. These F40s were so extensively modified that Ferrari removed them from its register, banning owners from calling them Ferraris.
RetroSpective also didn’t lack race car thrills, with a notable display featuring the Audi S1 Quattro Pikes Peak.
Beyond the Cars
RetroSpective offered more than just automotive wonders. The indoor space, usually reserved for specialized machines, was bustling with RC drift tracks, sneaker stores, pop-up tattoo studios, and vintage arcade machines. These arcade games even inspired some very cool t-shirts and trophies for the show’s Top 10 cars, making for an engaging visitor experience.
A Unique Event Atmosphere
Colin Timmens, a well-known figure in the automotive photography scene, remarked, "I was really impressed with the variety of cars at RetroSpective. There were non-show cars displayed alongside show cars, creating a unique atmosphere at the event that I’ve never experienced before in the Netherlands. RevWorks is onto something special, and I’m excited to see how RetroSpective evolves in the future."
Conclusion
RevWorks’ RetroSpective made a significant impact in its debut, combining classic and modified cars from multiple eras, thus attracting enthusiasts from across Europe. The unique atmosphere and broad scope of vehicles promise a bright future for subsequent RetroSpective events.
Donald Smith
Editor, Automotive.fyi
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