About us
Welcome to 53Classics.com – The Aircooled Way of Life
53Classics was born from a simple passion: air-cooled Volkswagens and the people who keep them on the road.
What started in 2015 when Pim began photographing classic Volkswagens at Vintage at Zandvoort in the Netherlands quickly became much more than a hobby. Combining a love for photography with a fascination for vintage Volkswagens, he started sharing event photos online. Not long after, a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle joined the family, opening the door to countless road trips, meetings, and events across Europe.
In 2018, 53Classics was officially launched as a website and social media platform dedicated to the air-cooled Volkswagen scene. Inspired by the iconic Herbie films and the unique culture surrounding classic Volkswagens, the goal has always remained the same: to share authentic stories, photographs, and experiences from within the community.
Today, 53Classics is more than just a website. Together with photographer Charis Amourgis, who joined the team in 2022 after a friendship formed through the Volkswagen community, we travel to shows, swap meets, cruises, and gatherings to document the people, vehicles, and atmosphere that make this hobby so special. [53classics.com]
We believe that air-cooled Volkswagens are about much more than cars. They create friendships, inspire adventures, and connect generations of enthusiasts around the world. Whether it’s a perfectly restored Beetle, a well-travelled Bus, or a unique custom build, every Volkswagen has a story worth sharing.
Through our articles, photography, and event coverage, we aim to preserve those stories and celebrate the air-cooled way of life.
Pim Hesse
Owner & photographer
Born in 1984 in Maassluis, the Netherlands, I have always had a soft spot for classic Volkswagens. In 2015, I attended my first Volkswagen event, Vintage at Zandvoort, with a camera in hand. What started as a day of photographing aircooled Volkswagens quickly turned into a passion that combined two of my greatest interests: classic cars and photography.
Later that year, my wife and I bought a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle, and since then we have travelled across the Netherlands and Europe visiting Volkswagen shows, cruises, swap meets, and some of the most beautiful locations imaginable. Along the way, I met incredible people and discovered that the aircooled Volkswagen community is about much more than the cars themselves.
In 2018, I launched 53Classics to share the photographs, stories, and experiences gathered during those adventures. My goal has always been simple: to capture the spirit of the aircooled Volkswagen scene and preserve the memories, friendships, and unique vehicles that make it so special.
Today, 53Classics allows me to combine my passion for photography, storytelling, and classic Volkswagens while connecting with enthusiasts from all over the world who share the same love for the aircooled way of life.
Charis Amourgis
Photographer
For Charis, aircooled Volkswagens are more than a hobby. They are a way of life, deeply connected to the close-knit VW community on the Greek island of Kefalonia.
As President of the VW Fan Club Kefalonia, Charis has spent years bringing enthusiasts together through events, road trips, and gatherings that celebrate the unique spirit of classic Volkswagens. His passion for the aircooled scene is matched by his talent for photography, capturing not only the cars themselves but also the people, friendships, and atmosphere that make every event memorable.
After meeting Pim in 2019 through the international Volkswagen community, a friendship quickly developed. Sharing the same enthusiasm for aircooled Volkswagens and event photography, it was a natural step for Charis to join the 53Classics team as a photographer in 2022. Since then, his work has helped bring the sights and stories of the aircooled scene from Greece and beyond to enthusiasts around the world.
Whether he is photographing a perfectly preserved Beetle, a vintage Bus overlooking the Ionian Sea, or the people who make the community so welcoming, Charis brings a personal perspective to every story he tells.
His mission is simple: to share the passion, friendship, and adventure that make the aircooled Volkswagen world such a special place.
