Mercedes Enthusiast

Juli 2021 – I’m happy UK specialist magazine Mercedes Enthusiast likes my stories. Since the August/September 2021 issue ME published five of my articles. Top notch photography is by either Noortje Blokland or Casper Heij.

How things started

Between 2001 and 2003 I met the online Pistonheads community. I started to post in the forums from October 2002 and ran homepage topics about a year later. A long list of photoblogs can be found on my Pistonheads profile page.

Between 2003 and 2006 I sourced subjects for their daily news feed. Long story short: I met 1,001 car dealers and collectors, racing teams, got invited by Lola, made stills for the GT Racer Algarve Special episode and so on. Although I’m a Dutch native my focus is international. And for a reason: passion for classic cars has no boundaries.

As a communications professional I am used to write text, from vast amounts to compact social posts. By chance from 2017 to 2019 I became lead-editor of Dutch RS Porsche Magazine and classic car enthusiast magazine Onschatbare Klassieker. I also contributed to SL Mercedes Magazine. After 2.5 years I took a different turn.

Autumn 2020 I wrote a story about ‘A real Peaky Blinder’s gang car’. Just for fun and because a UK Bentley dealer offered me the high res images of the car the recently sold. Spring 2021 I investigated if international magazines would be interested in publishing my stories. A handful responded and Mercedes Enthusiast offered to try an article.

So far five reportages are published in the 2021 and 2022 issues. Let’s have a look:

Article 01 – The Reinier Groenveld collection
ME August / September 2021, pages 44-48

Mercedes Enthusiast August / September 2021, pages 44-48

Reinier Groenveld opens the doors to his 57-piece Benz collection. I brought photographer Casper Heij to inspect the stock in Reinier’s vault-like shed and wrote the words for a 5 page article.

Reinier in front of only a selection of his Benz jewels

Article 02 – Monceau Automobiles eSLC #001
ME October / November 2021, pages 56-60

Mercedes Enthusiast October / November 2021, pages 42-45 & pages 56-60

My first ever drive in the all electric Monceau Automobiles eSLC. And it is a revelation. Some say it drives even better than a contemporary EV… Photographer Noortje Blokland did a great job capturing the beauty of this gem. Check this Belgium company out: more E-classics soon!

Snapshots kindly provided by photographer Noortje Blokland.

Article 03 – Review E50 AMG and SL60 AMG
ME October / November 2021 , pages 42-45

E50 AMG and SL60 AMG on the move. Ace shot by Casper Heij.

Brutal AMG road warriors still offer huge value for money. Both cars are made to eat miles, either in four-seater or two-seater guise. Hard to pick my favorite: E50 is a practical fast family hack and the SL60 V8 is just awesome. Better than the V12 6 litre? Yes!

Article 04 – Review W114 and 123
ME February / March 2022, pages 34-40

Mercedes Enthusiast February / March 2022, pages 34-40

Fantastic coverage of 70s Das Haus workhorse w114 and successor w123. Start reading from page 34 and enjoy the ace photography by Noortje Blokland.

Article 05 – Review 450SEL 6.9
ME June / July 2022, pages 38-43

Mercedes Enthusiast June / July 2022, pages 38-43

The best car ever built? Photographer Noortje Blokland and I found out: start reading from page 38. And also enjoy the SLC special – my favorite Benz – and consider a subscription.

Article 06 – Review W110 Heckflosse Binz 190Dc & S123 300D Combi
(to be published)

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