Lancaster Joins Rustival for a Packed Fourth Show at the British Motor Museum

Put simply, it is almost impossible to do Rustival 2026 justice. Here are 20 examples of its many highlights: 

1. A Volvo 480 – a car that looks even better in the metal than it does in pictures. 

2. A Volvo 940 Estate with a tent and a bicycle rack. This Volvo made me feel extremely old as I must have been about 26 years old when it left the showroom.  

3. Some magnificent Citroën BXs, including the stupendously rare Series 1 Estate owned by our old friend Will-Hollands-Smith. Parked next to it was an equally splendid five-door hatchback BX in a very ‘Early 1980s’ shade of beige. 

4. Matt Richardson's P71-series Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, a vehicle that looks as though it has just emerged from an episode of The Sopranos. 

5. A Toyota Yaris that travelled all the way from Scotland to be a part of the event. 

6. A double take at the magnificent blue Alfa Romeo Alfa 6. I wrote about this very unusual car a few years ago; it is an Italian-market 2.0-litre version, and the only Alfa 6 with that engine in the UK. Plus, it is hard to resist an Alfa Romeo fitted with rear window blinds. 

7. A V6-engine Vauxhall Vectra with a coachline that belonged in The Comic Strip Presents...Four Men in a Car. 

8. Stephanie Holloway’s 1965 Humber Sceptre Mk. I in all its tail-finned glory. I do like the Sceptre; it has such an air of louche glamour. 

9. A green LHD Talbot-Matra Rancho; one of my favourite SUVs and a soft-roader with a unique charm. No wing-mounted swivelling mesh-covered spot lamps - I believe these were standard on UK-market Ranchos. 

10. A Lada Riva Estate – these were once a ubiquitous sight, and it still comes as a mild shock to realise that official Lada imports ended 29 years ago. 

11. The Austin Maestro restoration project in metallic blue. 

12. The Citroen 2CV SK350 ‘Camion’ with aftermarket front and rear indicators. 

13. The Peugeot 405 Estate (when did you last see one of those) that is used as everyday transport. 

14. The very handsome, and very orange, Volvo 245DL. 

15. The Opel Kadett D. These were once sold alongside Astra Mk. Is at your friendly local Vauxhall-Opel dealership. 

16. A stunning, and very early, Triumph Herad complete with a venetian blind in the rear screen. 

17. The Morris Minor Series II owned by a young and very keen enthusiast who drives it all over the UK. It even had working trafficators. 

18. The yellow Ford Escort Mk. II with the ‘RUINED’ number plate. 

19. A Citroen DS; one of the few cars to merit the much-overused phrase “iconic”. 

20. The beautiful 1988 Nissan Sunny Estate. The owners were so kind as to let me use it as a temporary ‘office’, and I can happily report that its magnificently grey interior is very comfortable. 

Of course, so many more cars assembled at the British Motor Museum that it would require several more blogs to encompass them all.

Most importantly, the show was a priceless opportunity to meet old friends and to make new ones. So, a heartfelt thanks to Stephanie, Carli, Matt and Ian. Here’s to Rustival 2027.