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Category: British Motor Museum
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The British Motor Museum has announced that it will host another eight key motoring shows this Autumn. The Museum has already hosted a packed calendar of events throughout the summer months. The remaining shows held in September and October include Retro Truck Show on 5 & 6 September, MX-5 Owners Club National Rally on 13 September, DR1VR Show on 20 September, Rustival on 26 September, Jaguars at Gaydon on 27 September, Porsche Boxster 30th Anniversary Celebration on 10 October, Large Model Aircraft Show on 11 October, and the Great British Model Railway Show on 24 & 25 October.
The Retro Truck Show is one of the biggest in the calendar, highlighting some of the top truck manufacturers, from DAF to Volvo. It welcomes trucks from countries across Europe, including France, Belgium and the Netherlands, bringing over 300 trucks from 1971 to 2001 together to create a amazing display. The show is great for families too, with children having a fantastic time looking around the towering trucks on display. 
The MX-5 Owners Club National Rally is returning this September, with over 1,500 cars expected from the UK and beyond. This is nothing less than the world’s biggest event of its kind, and the rally is the backbone of the UK's MX-5 community. There is no better place to connect with fellow fans and leading specialists.
The DR1VR Show is bringing its legendary show back to the Museum, so whether you're a tuner or a fan, this is the place to be! No matter your build, whether bagged, on coilovers, wrapped or painted, it has a place here. Expect live music, hundreds of like-minded petrolheads, and an epic show-car display. Bringing together modern and classic stance, track builds, and timeless classics, DR1VR Show is the place to be for any modified car enthusiast.
Rustival is back for the fifth time, as open-hearted and unpretentious as ever. Hosts Ian and Carly from HubNut, Steph from IDRIVEACLASSIC, and Matt from Furious Driving invite visitors to bring along their ride and take their place amongst a line-up spanning every decade of motoring. From polished pride and joy to gloriously weathered survivor. Cars, bikes, buses and everything in between. Expect surprise guests, generous conversations and good food. At the heart of it all is the renowned Friendship Corner where usernames become handshakes and newcomers become regulars.
The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT) is once again partnering with the Museum for its annual gathering of Jaguar enthusiasts at Jaguars at Gaydon. Hundreds of Jaguars will be on the prowl in the show arena, alongside Daimlers, Swallows, SS and Lanchesters. The roving commentator will meet owners and share the stories behind these remarkable vehicles, highlighting the passion, craftsmanship and history that make them so special. The event will also feature the Champion of Champions Concours, showcasing a selection of outstanding vehicles from across the Jaguar community.
The Large Model Aircraft Show is back, bringing with it over 100 large static radio-controlled model aircraft! Every era will be represented, from the legends of WW1 and WW2 to the cutting-edge jets of today. Best of all, no flight line fencing means visitors can get up close to these incredible models. Visitors can enjoy a huge trade area, packed with everything needed to get their model aircraft dreams off the ground, from parts to prebuilt models. Plenty of builders and pilots will be on hand to talk about their creations.
The Porsche Boxster 30th Anniversary will celebrateone of Porsche’s most iconic sports cars, which turns 30 this year. With a display spanning every era of the Porsche Boxster, from the 986 to the 718, this is the largest Boxster gathering the club has ever run. Along with the displays, visitors will also have the chance to mingle with Porsche enthusiasts, share their passion, and shop for parts from leading vendors.
The Great British Model Railway Show is a special family-friendly weekend dedicated to model trains and layouts, where the industry’s biggest names come together with enthusiasts to celebrate masterpieces in miniature. Discover over 40 model railways of every shape and size, plus over 30 specialist traders. All the big names will be there, from Hornby to Bachmann, so whether you’re hunting for rolling stock or rolling hills, you will find everything needed for your next standout build.
Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum, stated, “Summer may be ending, but there is still plenty going on this Autumn at the Museum with a superb range of classic, modern and family-friendly motoring shows for our visitors and enthusiasts to enjoy in September and October!”
Show entry, including access to the Museum, is just £18 for adults in advance or £21 on the day, £16 for concessions in advance or £19 on the day and £9 for children (5-16 years) in advance or £10 on the day. Under 5s go FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee and receive an Annual Pass in return at no extra cost. Prices vary on Annual Pass Exempt Days. To find out more information about the shows, please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/
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There’s still plenty of summer fun to be had at the British Motor Museum, with a full schedule of motoring shows running throughout late July and August. The Museum has already hosted a packed shows calendar throughout June and early July. The remaining shows include the Rootes Heritage Day and Old Ford Rally on 19 July, Petrol & Pride on 26 July, Fiat & Friends on 1 August, Young Driver Experiences on 2 August, the Ultimate German Car Meet on 9 August, and the People's Air-Cooled Show on 23 August.
The Great British Summer Savings offer runs until 1 September with £1 child tickets for all visits between 25 June and 1 September, including all these great shows! Learn more and book on the Museum website for a great value day out.
The Old Ford Rally will bring fans together to see 400 classic Fords on display, from Model Ts to the cars of the pre-war austerity years, to the more luxurious post-war Zephyrs, Zodiacs, and Granadas, plus the fan-favourite Anglias, Mk1 and Mk2 Cortinas, Capris, Escorts, and Fiestas. Taking place alongside the Old Ford Rally, the Rootes Archive Centre Trust will be holding their Rootes Heritage Day, celebrating all Rootes classics, from earlier Hillmans, Humbers, Sunbeams and Singers to the later Chryslers, Simcas and Talbots.
‘Petrol & Pride’ returns for its second year and is inclusive of all people and all vehicles. Building an empowering new fixture for members, friends and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, the event aims to allow everyone to show off their pride in their wheels and themselves, in a day of music, food and fun. Expect prizes for the Butchest, Gayest, and Best Glow Up, with winners chosen by a panel of judges, and even a pride flag display made from different-coloured cars.
After an incredible first two years, Fiats and Friends returns for 2026, with the best of Fiat on display in an unmissable summer event! This family event celebrates Fiat vehicles of all ages, along with the achievements of other designers, manufacturers and engineers. Fiats & Friends is open to every Italian vehicle from 1899 to the present day, including cars, electric vehicles, motorcycles & mopeds, commercial vehicles, campers, supercars... even tractors!
The Museum has teamed up with Young Driver to bring their ever-popular driving experiences to the Museum! Alongside the traditional driving lessons, Young Driver offers 15 minute Classic Car Experiences for kids of 10 and up! There are 2 British motoring classics to choose from - a Morris Minor and an Austin 7. Driving classic cars is great fun and will give youngsters a feel for sensitive and delicate car control - a rare and useful skill for drivers. There are time slots available from 10am to 4:15pm.
The Ultimate German Car Meet returns for a third year in 2026. Last year’s event saw more than 800 cars on display and this year promises to be even bigger. All performance, classic, modified, rare, sports and super German cars are welcome to join the display at this unmissable event!
The People’s Air-Cooled Show is an exciting new event dedicated to the Volkswagen and Porsche air-cooled community. Every air-cooled Porsche or Volkswagen is welcome to join the display, regardless of age or model! Exhibitors and their passengers benefit from discounted tickets that include admission to the Museum, making this an unmissable day out for enthusiasts, families, and fans alike.
Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum, stated, “There's still plenty of summer fun to be had at the Museum! We continue to have a fantastic range of classic and modern motoring shows for our visitors and enthusiasts to enjoy throughout July and August! There really is something for everyone this summer, and fingers crossed the sun will keep shining”.
Show entry, including access to the Museum, is just £18 for adults in advance or £21 on the day, £16 for concessions in advance or £19 on the day and £1 for children (5-16 years); and under 5s are FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee and receive an Annual Pass in return at no extra cost (excludes £1 child tickets). Prices vary on Annual Pass Exempt Days.
To find out more information about the shows, please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/
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The British Motor Museum is to host ‘Petrol & Pride’, which returns for its second year on Sunday, 26 July. Building an empowering new fixture for members, friends and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, the event aims to allow everyone to show off their pride in their wheels and themselves. The event is inclusive not only of all people, but of all vehicles.
Visitors can immerse themselves in a day of music, food and fun in the beating heart of Britain’s motoring heritage. Expect prizes for the Butchest, Gayest, and Best Glow Up, with the winners picked by a panel of judges, and an incredible pride flag display made from different coloured cars.
This event is run as a partnership between Petrol and Pride and the British Motor Museum. All proceeds will support the Museum’s work and an LGBTQ+ charity to be announced. Tickets include entry to the British Motor Museum, home to over 400 iconic British vehicles.
Wayne Bruce, one of the Petrol & Pride organisers and a trustee at the British Motor Museum, said: “After a successful trial last year, thanks to the support and enthusiasm of the team at the British Motor Museum in appropriately named Gay-don ... Petrol & Pride, the UK's most colourful motoring event, is back this year bigger and even brighter than before. It is an automotive inclusive event, so whatever your wheels - from Beetles to Bentleys - you'll be welcome. That includes any car, motorcycle, truck, ice cream van of any age, value, and condition - we love you all. And, yes, even electric powered and diesel-fuelled ones, too.”
Anyone wishing to exhibit their vehicle as part of the show displays can book their place online for just £13. This includes an entry pass to display the vehicle and gives admission for the driver to the show, Museum and Collections Centre. Additional passenger tickets are available to purchase at a discounted rate if you’d like to bring friends or family along. Advance Show tickets cost £18 per adult, £1 per child, & £16 per concession. Choose to donate your ticket and upgrade to an Annual Pass at no extra cost!
To find out more information about the show, please call 01926 895300 or visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/petrol-and-pride
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The British Motor Museum will host a full schedule of ten classic and modern motoring shows throughout June and July. These will include the Banbury Run on 7 June, Classic & Vintage Commercial Show on 13 & 14 June, Aston Martin Owners Club Festival on 21 June, Ford Nationals on 28 June, Wythall BusFest on 4 July, National Metro & Mini Show on 5 July, BMC & Leyland Show on 12 July, Rootes Heritage Day and Old Ford Rally on 19 July and Petrol & Pride on 26 July.
Celebrating its 76th Anniversary, the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Banbury Run will see 500 Veteran and Vintage motorcycles and three-wheelers ride out from the Museum. Many of these venerable machines will be tackling the challenging ascent of Sun Rising Hill near Tysoe, which was used to test out newly manufactured vehicles in the early days of motoring. Widely acknowledged as the premier gathering for pre-1931 motorcycles and three-wheelers in the world, the Banbury Run is geared towards those who enjoy the thrill of riding with other Vintage, Veteran and Pioneer bikes.
Visitors can take a trip down memory lane at the Classic and Vintage Commercial Show and admire over 400 pre-2004 commercial vehicles, including lorries, vans and pick-ups! The show offers visitors a rare opportunity to reminisce about days gone by and relive the heyday of these classic workhorses. Take a look back at a range of iconic historic vehicles, from the legendary Morris Minor and Ford Transit vans through to the mighty 1950s and 60s Foden’s, ERFs, AECs, Leyland’s and then Volvos and Scania’s from the 1970s.
Visitors can celebrate the best of Aston Martin at the Aston Martin Owners Club Festival, held in conjunction with the Aston Martin Heritage Trust. This year, the spotlight falls on an icon - the 25th anniversary of the V12 Vanquish, as seen in the James Bond film “Die Another Day”, making this show the ultimate destination for dads this Father’s Day.
Ford Nationals celebrates the best of the Blue Oval with Ford car clubs from all over the UK and Europe in a memorable day for Ford fans. 2026 will celebrate the Ford Cortina MK4 50th Anniversary and Ford Orion MK2 40th Anniversary! Hundreds of Ford fans gather at Ford Nationals every year, creating a diverse display, including modern, classic, and commercial vehicles!
2026 sees the fifth Wythall Busfest @ Gaydon as it now gains a firm footing in the annual bus rally calendar. This year, the focus is on Daimler, now in its 130th year, with a display of historic Daimler buses alongside examples of important Daimler cars, courtesy of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT). All Daimler PSV types from all eras are welcome to join the rally, and visitors will be able to visit the JDHT gallery in the Collections Centre to view the magnificent range of Daimler and Jaguar cars that populate the collection.
Visitors to the National Metro & Mini Show can take in hundreds of the best examples of Britain’s most iconic small car marques. This ever-popular show, which is regarded as a favourite in the event calendar for owners of Metros, classic Minis, and modern MINIs, will also feature Concours and Show ‘n’ Shine competitions, offering visitors the opportunity to prove their cars’ worth in front of a panel of expert judges.
The BMC & Leyland Show will feature a wide range of British marques produced by the British Motor Corporation, British Leyland and The Rover Group, bringing the golden age of Britain’s motor industry to life! Hundreds of vehicles will be lined up outside the Museum, from Minis and Morris Minors to the larger Rover 800s, Montegos and Maestros, as well as a variety of vans and lorries.
The Old Ford Rally will enable fans to see around 400 classic Fords on display, from Model Ts to the cars of the pre-war austerity years, to the more luxurious post-war Zephyrs, Zodiacs, and Granadas, plus the fan-favourite Anglias, Mk1 and Mk2 Cortinas, Capris, Escorts, and Fiestas. Taking place alongside the Old Ford Rally, the Rootes Archive Centre Trust will be holding their Rootes Heritage Day, celebrating all kinds of Rootes classics, from earlier Hillmans, Humbers, Sunbeams and Singers to the later Chryslers, Simcas and Talbots. Ticket holders on 19July will be able to enjoy both shows, as well as entry to the Museum and Collections Centre, all with one ticket.
Petrol & Pride aims to allow everyone to show off their pride in their wheels and themselves. The event is not only inclusive of all people, but of all vehicles. Visitors can immerse themselves in music, food and fun in the beating heart of Britain’s motoring heritage. Expect prizes for the Butchest, Gayest, and Best Glow Up, with the winners picked by a panel of judges and an incredible pride flag display made from different coloured cars.
Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum, stated, “We have a fantastic range of classic and modern motoring shows for our visitors and enthusiasts to enjoy throughout June & July! These ten key shows sit at the heart of our shows season and form gathering points for a broad range of motoring fans, showing the power of these vehicles to bring people together. There really is something for everyone to enjoy this summer and fingers crossed the sun will be shining throughout!”
Show entry, including access to the Museum, is just £18 for adults in advance or £21 on the day, £16 for concessions in advance or £19 on the day, £9 for children (5-16 years) in advance or £10 on the day and under 5s are FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee and receive an Annual Pass in return at no extra cost. Prices vary on Annual Pass Exempt Days. To find out more information about the shows, please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/
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The British Motor Museum is one of 24 museums that have received a share of £4 million through the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund 2025-27. The Fund brings together £2 million in match funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and independent, grant making charity, the Wolfson Foundation.
£147,700 has been allocated to the British Motor Museum which will be used to develop and deliver Grasping the Image: digital accessibility to heritage images - a project that will enhance accessibility to heritage photographs held in the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (BMIHT) Archive. The project will run from Spring 2026 to early 2027.
The project will provide unprecedented access for visually impaired visitors and wider audiences to a historically significant collection of 20th century photographic negatives. Conservation-led, public-facing and co-created, this digital accessibility project will produce digital twins of a currently inaccessible collection using advanced digital imaging and create innovative tactile/audio models.
This project, led by the BMIHT Archive, will bring together partners including the Centre for Print Research, University of the West of England, digital heritage company Mnemoscene and community organisations including the charity MyVision Oxfordshire and local schools which specialise in providing support for children with special educational needs.
Cat Stuart-Yapp, Head of Fundraising at theBritish Motor Industry Heritage Trust, said, “We’re delighted that we have been successful in our application to receive this funding. Using advanced digital capture solutions, the project will use our extensive collection of photographic negatives to generate 3D images, which can in turn be used to create tactile models with sensors to generate audio. This means that more people will be able to encounter, experience and enjoy our collections, in more ways”.
The project will help the Museum provide practical solutions to audience exclusion from ocular-centric collections and enable more multisensory access to the BMIHT’s heritage collections for audiences who do not use sight as their primary mode of engagement and learning. The project will also enable the creation of a specially created display space onsite at the British Motor Museum, and allow the Museum to reach out to schools, community groups and organisations through bespoke travelling interactive displays.
This funding also covers the procurement of new digitisation equipment and staff training, to enhance the Trust’s digital capacity and improve the discoverability and accessibility of the archival collections.
The Wolfson Foundation is an independent grant-making charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to contribute to civil society by supporting high-quality projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts. Since it was established in 1955, the Wolfson Foundation has awarded some £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) to more than 14,000 projects throughout the UK, all on the basis of expert review.
To find out more information about the Museum, please visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
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