I’ve been to the Geelong Revival a few times in the past and it was a decent event with a distinct feel compared to others. However in some ways it was limited because it only took place on a short stretch of road along Eastern Beach, which is not enough to properly showcase each car. The decision to create a new event called the Sandown Revival grabbed my attention because it seemed like a new opportunity to see a handful of interesting rides on and off the race track. With the constant talk of shutdown, visiting Sandown again after seeing the Supercars in November last year was a good feeling. I can’t re-iterate the importance of this venue enough. It has everything you need for a wonderful display and I came away feeling absolutely delighted with what I saw. So without further ado, let’s get into today’s proceedings.
Here is the original M car – the legendary 3.0 CSL race car. The aero and widebody kit was soo striking compared to the road car at the time that it became known as the “Batmobile”. With a naturally aspirated inline 6, 2 doors and rear wheel drive, it set the template for all M models going forward. It was definitely one of the louder cars at the event, drowning out the noise of everything else on track with it. The sound really is glorious because it’s totally unfiltered.
The Ferrari 550 Maranello is a proper Italian thoroughbred. I’ve already spoken about it here before but this spec is perfect. Rosso Corsa exterior colour with a black dash, light tan leather and red carpeting in the back is the stuff dreams are made of. Unfortunately, it barely made a noise on track. Still, seeing this car actually being driven on track was a privelege.
I have to say the Ferrari turnout was very strong with all sorts of models from the last 45 years coming out. Most of these you should be able to recognise by now. Some hit the track and survived without any issue! It’s great to see these machines actually being driven hard like they’re supposed to be!
The Lamborghini Huracan has been a massive hit for the Sant Agata automaker, enjoying a 10 year production run that was only cancelled a few months ago. The STO is the most hardcore variant, specifically designed for track performance and with a loud metallic green body colour, you won’t miss it as it roars by.
Here’s a wonderful example of an E34 BMW M5 from the Highball Motor Club. Despite being more than 30 years old, it still looks like a quality product with a sublime fit and finish that actually provides a luxurious experience. Technology was not given the same priority as it is today.
Super Touring was a short-lived formula that took the world by storm in the late ’90s before fading into obscurity about as quickly as it emerged. Small sedans and hatchbacks faced off in close quarters competiton and this BMW 320 was one of the combatants. With rear-drive instead of front-drive like most of it’s rivals, the package was supposedly better suited to track racing. Of course, the grids got too big and manufacturers would spend millions just to end up 10th, soo they just pulled out and put their money elsewhere. Such was the problem with a series that allowed for open car development.
Wow I didn’t expect to see this car again. This is Scott Pye’s race winning ZB Commodore Supercar from the Melbourne 400 at Albert Park. It was an incredible victory and I was lucky enough to witness it! Scott Pye would rack up his second win in the 2024 Sandown 500 with Will Brown, which I ALSO witnessed! Coincedence? I think not!
A DB9 Volante? In British Racing Green? Yes please! This open-top grand tourer combined power, beauty and soul for the distinguished gentleman to cruise around in. Not going to lie, this is one of the best looking cars ever designed and I don’t think that’s going to change. Adding this car to my extensive photo collection was highly satisfying.
The Jaguar XKR is not a common car around here so seeing this one was a nice surprise. This car has a supercharged V8 that produces 370HP and the design is supposed to reflect the E-Type’s more curvaceous style compared to the XJS. I do see a bit of that and I prefer it as a result.
There are 3 letters in the alphabet that, when said together, cause car enthusiasts to freak out – TVR. This small British car manufacturer from Blackpool used to create some truly wild sports cars that wouldn’t take any prisoners. The quirks made them rather endearing and they developed something of a reputation in the car community. Anyway, this TVR here is called the Chimaera and it’s only the second I’ve ever seen.
You’ve all heard of a conga line, but have you ever heard of a Cobra line? The Shelby Cobra is the most replicated car of all time and there were a tonne of them at this event. A lot of them are made under liscence, thus ensuring an extremely faithful recreation.
This red Cobra in particular grabbed my attention. It is quite incredible to see how much love there still is for this Anglo-American sports car.
I’ve seen a lot of second gen MR2s but never one like this. Normally, it would have targa-top but this one has a “Spider” top that essentially turns the car into a convertible. This is not an aftermarket modification – Toyota made just 91 of these “MR Spider” models from factory. What a fantastic little nugget for the blog.
Rick Mears was a very famous Indycar driver and this one of his cars from 1987. The “Yellow Submarine” livery has become extremely recognisable and Penske have put it on many of their cars. Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin had a livery like this on his Indycar at last year’s Indy 500.
This event gave me a huge amount of new content that I can’t wait to share on Instagram in the coming weeks. Another reason why this event worked was the welcoming atmosphere and the relaxed nature that allowed me to take my time and enjoy the cars. Cars and coffee is great but it can get very chaotic with soo much going on in a smaller time period. At the Sandown Revival, I didn’t have to rush around so I could take a good look at each vehicle and take some fantastic photos for all you lovely people. Thanks again for your support and I’ll be back soon for more quality car content.
DevMacCars 