At last, the European car show season is underway.
After months of grey skies and salted roads, the arrival of spring signals something far more exciting than just warmer weather. It’s the moment when summer wheels come out of storage, and the continent’s car culture returns to the spotlight.
Traditionally, I wait until Easter to make the trip to Elmia in Sweden, the unofficial kickoff for the Scandinavian scene. However, this year, I decided to shake things up.
Instead of staying within the familiar borders of the Nordic circuit, I decided to add another stamp to the passport and head south to Belgium, where enthusiasts gather for what many consider the real opening act of the European show calendar.
This past weekend, people and cars from all over Europe visited the Nekkerhallen in Mechelen. The 20,000sq/m hall is best known for hosting game tournaments, but in the car world, it hosts Belgium’s largest indoor stance event, Risenation’s Hall Of Fame.
Entering through the doors, you quickly understand the vibe: Clean, minimalistic and European. If you have ever heard the term ‘euro stance’, you’ll know what this show is all about.
VAG platforms with BBS wheels and air suspension seem to be the formula of choice here. It’s a combination that defines much of the modern European stance scene, and for good reason.
Compared to other corners of the car world, the barrier to entry is relatively accessible. VAG parts are widely available, the platforms are plentiful, and building something clean and well-executed doesn’t necessarily require a six-figure budget. While the values of JDM icons continue to climb, the Euro scene offers an alternative path. One that’s easier to step into, yet still leaves plenty of room for creativity and personal style.
But in the sea of European builds, there are always JDM cars lurking around, and that is totally fine.
Like this Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution wagon, looking tough on a set of white RAYS Volk Racing TE37s. Japan’s most iconic aftermarket wheel isn’t as common in Europe as it is in other parts of the world, so seeing a set of TEs in person still feels somewhat special to me. I might be a little bit biased, though; they’re my dream wheels after all.
Or this Liberty Walk Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R owned by Formula One World Drivers’ Champion Lando Norris.
While Lando was slaying away at the Australian Grand Prix, his car was displayed at the Liberty Walk booth and won a Top 20 award.
As a little challenge, I always try to find cars that break the norm, and this being a show with a set theme, it’s not that hard.
Case in point, this 5-cylinder 1,000 hp VW rocket – a build that has everything going for it. Built for speed, I’m sure it can slay supercars with ease.
Behind it, the exact opposite. This Golf Mk2 is everything you would find in a show-focused build. I mean, look at that engine bay! I can’t imagine the amount of time you’d have to spend to make everything look this shiny.
The same can be said for this Volkswagen Corrado. I learned the car had been in hibernation for several years before returning to the scene.
Still, I tend to lean toward builds that feel like they belong on the road as much as the show floor. Cars you can actually drive without needing to disassemble half the engine to polish a single bolt.
Along one side of the hall, positioned right in front of the main stage, were several cars elevated on display platforms. The setup gave these standout builds a little extra presence above the floor.
The middle of the hall was taken over by vendor stands, arranged in a maze-like layout that practically forced you to wander through every aisle. It’s a clever setup for the exhibitors, with tables packed full of die-cast models, stickers, apparel and just about every other piece of automotive merchandise you could think of. This was great news for the vendors, not so great news for my wallet. I tend to throw money at anything that catches my eye.
With the summer season now in full effect, I aim to visit a couple of more indoor shows Europe has to offer. Next up, I’ll be heading to Jönköping, Sweden, over Easter weekend, for the Custom Car Show.
In the meantime, enjoy the gallery below. Breng het maar!
Wow – this one just kept going! This isn’t typically my crowd but there were some really cool details in there and so much hard work!
That stanced fd looks lowkey tough, ive never seen a stanced re-amemiya car before, anyone know what wheels those are, are they te37’s? they look a little diffirent than te’s i thought but idk