For Scandinavian car enthusiasts, October usually means three things: time to put summer driving on hold until the roads clear again in about six months, anticipation of SEMA coverage and, most importantly, the Oslo Motor Show.
Held at the Nova Spektrum Convention Center in Lillestrøm, Norway, this annual event showcases the best automotive builds from Scandinavia before the long winter arrives.
I’m looking forward to this show for several reasons. Although smaller than the Elmia Custom Car Show in Sweden, there are always remarkable vehicles on display at the Oslo Motor Show. Here are my favorites from this year’s exhibition…
Viktor Mårtensson’s 1999 Honda Civic EJ9
Let’s start with a familiar face. Longtime Speedhunters readers may remember Viktor Martensson‘s internet-breaking build from 2013.
Its incredible 1JZ-exchanged Volkswagen Caddy was unlike anything he had ever seen, leaving Paddy speechless when he saw it for the first time. For this latest version, Viktor has taken a more subdued approach with his ’99 all-wheel drive Honda Civic EJ9, designed for street performance.
The exterior has been nicely modified with front fenders, roof and trunk with carbon/Kevlar skin. Complementing this are custom aluminum side fenders and steel rear fenders.
Tein coilovers define the look, while Work Meister S1 wheels – 16 x 8.5 inches all around and fitted with stretched tires – bring it all together.
Inside, Viktor has taken a minimalist approach. While his previous builds had completely custom interiors, this one is simpler, with just a pair of Bride Low Max seats, a Honda CR-V shifter, and a Luisi steering wheel.
The real highlight, however, is under the hood…
Originally equipped with a 1.5L D15Z3 SOHC VTEC-E engine good for 90 horsepower, the Civic now features a fully built 2.0L K20A2 DOHC iVTEC mill producing over four and a half times as much, paired with a Honda CR engine with four-wheel drive. V drivetrain.
Viktor’s vision was to create a high-revving four-cylinder – with boost. Reliability was critical, which was reflected in the quality components through the engine construction, including the single Garrett G30-770 turbocharger, paired with a custom exhaust manifold and a 50mm Turbosmart wastegate.
Bosch 1,300cc injectors ensure optimal fuel delivery, supported by a Radium fuel rail and pressure regulator. The engine, complete with a Skunk2 intake manifold, VAG ignition coils and a custom wiring harness, was fabricated by Viktor in his home garage.
With 415 horsepower and power delivered through all four wheels, this little Honda is living its best life.
According to Christian’s 1989 BMW E30 325i
Built from one attitude to another, this BMW E30, built by Per Christian from Norway, immediately caught my attention.
While the exterior maintains a sleek, minimalist aesthetic, enhanced by Air Lift Performance air suspension and Work Meister S1R split wheels, it was the interior that really piqued my interest.
Per was inspired by interiors from the eighties for his custom-made checked interior.
The doors, the front and rear seats and parts of the center console are covered in Italian red Alcantara, supplemented with the checked fabric, sourced from Per in Portugal.
Inside the trunk are a single 10-inch Focal subwoofer, a 300W monoblock amplifier and two Streetec Comp2 Evo air compressors for the air ride, all neatly integrated.
Up front, the same checked fabric adorns certain engine parts, although these are just for show and are removed when Per drives the car. The M20B25 engine has undergone a major overhaul, making everything in the bay look new.
While custom interiors are not as common in Scandinavian car culture, a select few are fully embracing this artistic approach, including Per.
Fredrik Forsberg’s 1982 Volkswagen Golf Mk1
I admit I didn’t fully appreciate this car when I first saw it on the Custom Motor Show (aka Elmia) earlier this year.
I decided to dig deeper, and I’m glad I did. Fredrik Forsberg‘s Volkswagen Golf Mk1 – equipped with Air lift performance air suspension – is a masterclass in execution.
The shaved engine bay houses a 3.2-liter Porsche Cayenne inline-six engine, which generates approximately 270 horsepower. Power is transferred to the wheels via a Volkswagen Golf Mk3 VR6 02A 5-speed CCM gearbox, complemented by a Peloquin limited slip differential.
The main customization can be seen in the interior, which consists of a redesigned dashboard with handmade extensions and a Porsche 911 instrument cluster. The seats came from a Porsche 944, reupholstered with handmade woven Alcantara and leather. Shifting is done via a CAE short shifter and the steering wheel is from Momo. The door panels, carpets, headliner and trunk also demonstrate similarly meticulous craftsmanship, and underneath Fredrik installed the sound-deadening Silent Coat.
On the outside, Fredrik went for a sleek, minimalist look, accentuated by a striking color. The ‘Meissa’ logo in the engine compartment refers to the Porsche 356 Meissen Blue paint.
Numerous Porsche details are present, including custom 944 Teledial wheels, 996 Carrera four-piston brake calipers paired with 305mm front discs and Porsche door handles with engraved locks.
I’m glad I got another look at this car as it quickly became one of my favorites from the event.
Mercedes-Benz CLR from 1999
If you were to ask me to define an automotive masterpiece, this would be it: the Silver Arrow, created to secure victory for Mercedes-Benz at Le Mans.
The CLR’s aerodynamic silhouette is inspired by the CLK LM, which dominated the 1998 FIA GT Championship. It’s hard not to admire the intricate details of what should be Mercedes-Benz’s next racing champion. But unfortunately the CLR never finished a race.
This car was one of three entries in the 1999 Le Mans race at the Circuit de la Sarthe, and it was notably the only one that failed to take off during the event.
Car #4, driven by Mark Webber, went airborne twice: once during qualifying and again during warm-up.
During the race, the second CLR, No. 5, driven by Peter Dumbreck, was launched into the air at 200 mph (322 km/h), flying 50 feet (15 meters) high before capsizing several times. Remarkably, both drivers survived their incidents with only minor injuries.
The third car – this one – was withdrawn before the race, leading to the end of the CLR racing program and prompting the FIA to revise the rules for future Le Mans events.
As I circled this incredible machine, I wondered what the racing landscape would look like if Mercedes-Benz had had success with the CLR. Would motorsport have taken a different path?
This CLR is now in the Nationales Automuseum The Loch Collection in Dietzhölztal, Germany, but if you’re lucky, you might see it at a car show like I did.
BMW 3.0 CSL from 1976, by Frank Stella
What are the BMW Art Cars? Initiated in the late 1970s by French racing driver Hervé Poulain, the idea was to merge racing car culture with contemporary art. The result? Twenty unique cars, each painted by a renowned artist, of which Frank Stella’s contribution to the 1976 Group 5 BMW 3.0 CSL was one of the most iconic.
Every inch of the car’s body is covered in a black and white square grid pattern, which accentuates its curves and contours.
This design sets it apart from other BMW Art Cars, which often feature vibrant colors and abstract shapes, but instead opt for a distinctive minimalist approach.
The car wasn’t just for looks; It was equipped with a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that produced 750 hp and could reach speeds of up to 341 km/h. He took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1976, but unfortunately had to retire due to an oil problem.
Since the first Art Cars, this initiative has become a celebrated tradition for BMW, combining performance and artistry to demonstrate that vehicles can be more than just machines – they can also be canvases for creative expression.
The same can be said for the notable cars I’ve highlighted here.
Alen Haseta
Instagram: Hazeta