Can you are feeling that?
With greater than 800 automobiles and nearly 100,000 attendees, the 2024 Customized Motor Present – aka Elmia – kicked off the Swedish automotive occasion season in an enormous approach over Easter weekend.
Coming into the Elmia Exhibition & Conference Centre halls for this occasion is all the time thrilling. Automotive fans from all corners of Scandinavia journey to Jönköping, Sweden to point out off their newest creations, and their efforts by no means disappoint.
In regular vogue, I began my walk-through in Corridor X by OijOij. This yr, nevertheless, I had already lent a hand by hanging among the fancy yellow lights and photos across the corridor. Maybe I ought to strive dipping my toes in inside design…
Volkswagen Bora versus Saab 9-3. BBS versus Work. Crimson versus Blue. Which one do you decide?
No matter your automotive style, the number of automobiles in Corridor X all the time delivers one thing for everybody.
There are all the time a few automobiles that stand out from the remainder, although, and this yr’s major attraction was a pair of Kaido Racer-impressed builds.
Zeb, a New Zealander dwelling in Sweden, the proprietor of the white Celica, and Alexander from Finland, the proprietor of the blue Celica, have achieved an outstanding job of showcasing the Japanese Kaido Racer subculture with their builds. And the perfect half is, they each drove their automobiles to and from the conference centre.
One other construct that acquired a ton of affection was Tommy Laursen’s Volkswagen Beetle on Air Elevate Efficiency air suspension. As you will note later on this submit, Tommy’s creation was one in all a wave of Beetles that invaded Elmia this yr.
If I needed to decide only one automobile from Corridor X as a private favourite – not a simple factor to do – it might be this BMW E30 constructed by Pontus Johansson.
I is perhaps biased, however something that even barely resembles a DTM automobile will all the time win my coronary heart. You can not go fallacious with white paint and contrasting purple race seats.
Making my approach by Corridor A, I discovered a Liberty Stroll Lamborghini Huracán from Norway displayed alongside a Miles Works Automotive-built Porsche 996 Turbo owned by Peter Magnusson.
There are not any RWB Porsches in Sweden, so the Spanish-built Miles Works 996s are a welcome addition to our automobile tradition.
At this yr’s Customized Motor Present, there have been two of them. The second automobile belongs to Rodrigo Castro, who drove the 996 Turbo from Sweden to Mallorca in Spain two years in the past, so it might go beneath the knife.
I spoke to Dominic Miles (the person behind Miles Works Automotive) on the occasion, and he instructed me that huge issues are taking place at their store. Perhaps I ought to plan a visit to Mallorca to see what they’re as much as…
Bear in mind Henrik Mattsson‘s wild Volvo wagon from the 2023 present? This Volvo pickup belongs to his son, Markus. The V70 includes a customized tube body, Volvo T5 engine, BMW 6-speed ZF gearbox operating out to a Mercedes E-Class rear axle, and AMG brakes.
Elmia isn’t Elmia with out the loopy Volvos.
Scandinavians love big-power builds, and Halls A and B are the perfect locations to search out them on the Customized Motor Present. Some are what you’ll count on at any customized automobile present, however there are all the time hidden gems. The three builds above are an amazing instance.
Whereas some builds are purely show-focused, others have a extra sensible objective. Living proof, this Toyota Starlet with a BMW engine swap. It’s constructed for one objective: ripping on observe. I hope this little rocket exhibits up at one of many major Gatebil occasions this summer time, the place everyone knows issues get wild.
At this time’s customized automobile tradition owes an amazing deal to excessive builds like the 2 above.
Excessive ICE in fiberglass enclosures was as soon as the head of automobile modification. For a few days in April in Sweden, you possibly can return to 2005 and expertise these builds.
Nevertheless, Fredrik Forsberg has introduced his 1983 Volkswagen Golf Mk2 into the fashionable period with a shaved engine bay, customized inside and face-mounted break up wheels.
I saved coming again to those halls. Not due to the overwhelming quantity of turbo Volvos, however as a result of one of many halls showcased a really particular automobile. The spotlight of my weekend on the Customized Motor Present, no much less.
I used to be in a position to bounce the barrier and get proper up shut and private with this 1989 Group C Porsche 962, which was as soon as raced in Japan by the late Kunimitsu Takahashi.
Takahashi-san drove this 962 when it ran the Staff Kunimitsu Kenwood livery. At this time, the Porsche sports activities the Rothmans #1 livery, from when it was pushed by Derek Bell, Hans-Joachim Caught and Al Holbert.
It’s one factor to take a look at a automobile like this, however the ingrained scent of this iconic 962 – a mixture of burnt gasoline, oil and rubber – took it to a different degree.
Yearly on the Elmia present, they show a automobile that has been properly and actually squashed. It’s then as much as the folks to guess what it’s to win a prize. Judging by this image, any concepts?
Earlier than I made my strategy to halls C and D, one other VW Beetle operating Air Elevate Efficiency suspension stopped me in my tracks. See what I used to be saying earlier? It was a Bug takeover!
The recognition of American automobile tradition in Scandinavia appears to by no means wane. I solely see these automobiles at occasions like Elmia, however judging by the variety of new builds yearly, I haven’t even scratched the floor.
I spent numerous time looking out the gems, and one automobile stood out above the remainder for me. Keep tuned for extra on that construct.
Corridor D on the Customized Motor Present is one other favourite. It’s the place spectators can see how builders work, making it an amazing place for anybody who desires to be taught a factor or two concerning the business and pastime. Inside, there have been two automobiles I will probably be conserving my eyes on for future options – a bonkers Mini and a Gruppe 5-inspired BMW 1602.
Exterior, drifting and stunt exhibits supplied some stay motion. I solely managed to take a handful of snaps earlier than the session ended.
No matter you want, Elmia has you lined. I’ve just a few spotlights from the present to share quickly, so be sure to examine again for these. Within the meantime, there’s extra to take a look at from the 2024 Customized Motor Present within the gallery chapter under.
Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazetaa
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