Dressed for Excess – The Bodacious RADwood Returns

A new event for this year’s classic car calendar arrived in the form of a rather neat and stylish shindig called RADwood. Organised by Hagerty, it is the first to be held in the UK since its first outing in 2019. It’s all too easy to think of any themed event with a nod to the 1980s and 1990s as a fancy dress party, yet it cleverly captures the spirit of the time with a dash of cool.

Held at what is fast becoming one of the key classic car venues in the UK, Bicester Heritage opened its doors to around 500 vehicles, of which 50 were placed on the paddock in front of the iconic hangers, with the rest of the cars gracing the airfield and Exhibition hanger. The stage was set for what looked to be yet another Hagerty showcase event with food, live BMX and skate pros, and a low-key DJ spinning a wide range of appropriate background music. In addition to awards for the best saloon/estate, best sports, and best overall cars from the 1980s and 1990s, there were also rewards given out for individuals who made an effort to dress appropriately.

What exactly is RADwood then? While it follows a well-worn thread of appreciation of culture and cars, the nucleus of RADwood is the recognition to celebrate the 1980s and 1990s car design. It has proved to be a winning formula in the States, where the celebration of the 1980s and 1990s is viewed as a cultural high point for its attendees. Even though a sizeable number of vehicles from this era are still in use daily, many people still believe that these vehicles are only valuable as transportation. With events like RADwood and the Festival of the Unexceptional under their belt, the organisers hope to rustle up awareness to help preserve as many cars from this era as possible for future generations to appreciate.

Enough preamble, to give you an idea of the day and the potential of the event Car and Classic rolled up their jacket sleeves and moonwalked over to the open confines of Bicester Heritage and soaked up the day.

A stroll away from the main area always pays dividends and the reception was as fancy as an ambassador event served with hazelnut confectionery. This was one of a three Ferrari Testarossas spotted on the day.

Audi‘s ‘Vorsprung Durch Technik‘ advert campaigns did much to place their cars in the public consciousness. The Audi 100 was always less showy and brash than its compatriots, but that was exactly its appeal.

The original concept for GM’s Pontiac Trans Sports hosted futuristic styling, gullwing doors, a built-in Nintendo Entertainment System, and a glass roof. Production versions were toned-down, and for European drivers, it was possible to pick one up from your local Opel dealer.

A tribute to the Wintershall Das Motorenol BMW M3 DTM Race Car, the E30 M3 is simply one of the most iconic cars of its era, winning 25 titles as a touring car racer.

What do you get when you combine a utilitarian shopping car with a former rifle maker? A Fiat Panda 4×4. The whole of the drivetrain was built by Steyr Puch and was the first small transverse-engine production car with 4WD.

A car that lasted the era without being noticed and is almost completely ignored today, is VW’s compact Scirocco. Often overshadowed by its Golf sibling, the Scirocco angular pert styling has lasted well.

The very definition of eximious, the turbocharged cabriolet version of the Saab 900 Cabriolet was a fine way to arrive at the Royal Institute of British Architects awards.

MK2 VW Golfs can still be spotted around serving as dutiful transport for those who appreciate their durability, but the box-flared wheel-arched Supercharged Golf Rallye is something rather special. Homologated for rally sport, it was a rare failure for the Golf.

The first MG to emerge from the BL stable after the demise of the MGB, the car was an exercise in brand marketing rather than any real sporting pretensions, but the MG 1300 looked the part and added a boost to the sales of the Metro.

Arriving in the UK five years after it was first introduced, the sharp-suited Giugiaro-designed Isuzu Piazza was the last of the major Japanese manufacturers to arrive on these shores. It retained many of its original concept car features, including the integrated steering wheel adjustment that also moved the instrument cluster and single wiper blade.

Another brand that became phenomenally successful in the UK was Peugeot, while the 205 started the revolution, the bigger 309s and 405s became best sellers throughout the ’80s and ’90s. In Mi16 form, there were very few cars that could offer the same talent, space, style and ability.

We’ll have a look at the main show and shine area where the pick of the crop was selected for greater things. The cars represented a true balance of the era, with supercars mingling with Max Power-influenced cars and sensible saloons alongside camper vans.

Teutonic opulence with style

A story about taking a risk on your dream car. Craig, the founder of the Sunnyside Meet in Newport, brought his magnificent BMW 840i, which is one of just 139 Estoril blue vehicles thought to have been imported into the UK. Since buying the car back in 2018, Craig has been pleasantly surprised at how trouble-free luxury V8 motoring has been. By some good fortune, the car was for sale close to his home and the big pile of paperwork suggested that it had been well looked after. It even came with its original shrink-wrapped first aid kit. Craig went home with the best ’90s Sports car trophy.

Porsche baiting with a French Follies

The French were big players in the ’80s and ’90s, with Peugeot offering durable engineering, Renault providing a car for every need and Citroen attracting a more idiosyncratic appeal, so it’s not a surprise to learn that there were a healthy number of French cars at the event. We’ll focus on Phil’s Alpine GTA – a rare beast serving its purpose as a stylish rear-engined V6 sports car. The timing of the car was just right, pitched as an alternative to the Porsche 944. Initial comparisons were positive and more importantly, it was the first Alpine to be sold in RHD form. A lavishly finished cabin made you feel special, and Phil told us that it’s a stunning place to sit in. Having attended the other flagship Hegarty event, the Festival of the Exceptional in his 1990 Vauxhall Senator, he decided to bring along the Alpine GTA V6 which fits in nicely with the decadent yet quirky undercurrent of the event. Built by Matra alongside the Renault Espace, he feels life would be complete if he found a good Espace to complement the GTA. Check out that Miami Vice cut suit too. The judges also couldn’t help themselves and gave Phil the prize for Raddest Dressed.

Playstation hero

An interesting comparison to the BMW and Alpine is Jon Burgess’ Subaru SVX. Otherwise known as the Alcyone SVX, Jon tells us, that the car was encountered by many for the first time in the Sony Playstation game Gran Turismo. ‘I went back and found period road tests that didn’t know what to make of it, and that fascinated me, especially with that bubble canopy, all-wheel-drive and flat-six engine. It’s a grippy GT rather than a sports car; they were automatic only and they failed a lot in service. They’re one of the few “Bubble economy” nineties cruisers you can buy in good condition for under 10K.’ The car was close to being stripped down until Jon stepped in and saved the car but there is still work to be done, as he admits the gearbox is still a source of potential anxiety.

Big car equals big status

Rich is another owner who is familiar with the RADWood brand having turned up at the first meet in 2019 in his stunning Volvo 480 Turbo. Accompanied by his partner Abby, who spent hours getting her to look just right, Rich turned up at this event in his lightly modified Volvo 940 Turbo. Fitted with a rare Eiker E1 17” alloys, a custom stainless steel exhaust and an uprated gearbox, the RADWood judges appreciated his keen eye for personalisation. He told us “I love the Radwood vibe, I get to dress in dumb clothes and everyone is having fun.” and concludes that “it feels like being a part of something fun and alive.” Rich was awarded the best ’90s saloon/estate car of the event.

For your eyes only

Nik is well known in the world of car journalism circles and has been privy to a huge selection of cars over the years. Despite this, he decided to ignore the years of experience and knowledge in the realms of sensible motoring and throw caution into the wind and bought a 1982 Lotus Esprit S3. On eBay. Without even seeing it. A man after our own heart. We don’t need to delve into the trials and tribulations of his car but his mission was to get it ready for the RADwood event, after deciding he fancied repainting the car from its original red to the current yellow. The paint was still tender as he anxiously drove it up, aware of how the nose could easily attract chips and the odd blue bottle. Logically, the vision of Roger Moore putting the car through its paces in several 007 films was the motivation for buying it, as well as a genuine appreciation of the Giugiaro-penned lines. He admitted, “I would have liked a Countach, but this is certainly the next best thing“. His partner Rachel is pictured by the car.

WRC hero with comfort and gadgets

Capturing the vibe and essence of the show perfectly was Gary’s restored Toyota Celica GT4. An early example of the ST205 series GT4, it followed the previous generation of the GT4 involvement in Group A homologation WRC specials. The GT4 could easily reach 0-60 in well under 6 seconds, yet if you can find one, it’s viewed as something of a bargain today especially compared to an Escort RS2000 or Integrale. Just 300 were imported to Europe, out of 2500 built to comply with the homologation rules. Gary picked up the best overall winner in the 1990s category.

A Honda with a genuine British bulldog spirit

Japanese manufacturers were well represented at Radwood, with Ray’s beautifully finished second-generation facelift Honda Civic S grabbing the best 1980s hatch. When new it was the flagship Honda Civic sold in the UK, boasting a 5-speed manual gearbox, lowered suspension and a twin carb modified 1,335cc engine. However, all this is irrelevant, as the original engine has been replaced with an engine from a genuine Turbo Technics Avon coach-built Triumph Acclaim. The consensus from judges appreciated the family connection and the additional combination of coilovers, LSD and CRX front seats. Here is parked alongside an 8-geared Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo and MK1 Honda CRX.

Among the other winners included are the best 1980s sports car going to a Porsche 911 Targa. The 911, particularly in Targa form was a nod to the theme of the show ‘ Greed is good’  This was followed up by the best saloon of the ’80s a completely original one-owner-from -new Audi 90. Another car reflecting the longevity and durability of German cars was Alex’s VW G40 Polo. A fascinating car, it was unique in the hot superminis sector thanks to its supercharged 1.3 engine. The car has been in part of his family for much of his life, having once served as the school-run car. A nice touch to the often polarised ‘Max Power’ car culture was the recognition to a subtly modified Vauxhall Nova that ended up as the Juniors’ choice winner.

The event was perfectly summed up by Ed and Bernie Ratley’s superb contribution to the event, their 1985 Nissan EXA. Ed is something of a legend when it comes to his passion for cars and paired his love of the unusual with an interest in intriguing history. The judges correctly awarded them the Car of the Show after recognising this.

The EXA is likely to be a car that many people would have overlooked because of its modest foundation, the N12 1.5-litre Nissan Cherry. However, it blends an unusual combination of traditional cabin design with an angular wedge-inspired style that is unlike anything Nissan has ever done before or after.

Initially created as a fixed-head coupe, 100 red cars were converted by the American Sunroof Company of California, who then shipped the RHD cars back to Japan. The idea was to celebrate 15 years of the dealer chain that specialised in selling the Cherry models, by offering a raffle just to be selected for a chance to buy one.

Ed tells us that It’s a remarkably comfortable car, with generously sized seats and being a Nissan, it can cope with long journeys with refinement. It’s not immune to the typical problems that arise in vehicles that have had aftermarket roof-chops but when you start looking at the car, the strengthening and bracing are clearly noticeable and well considered. What’s more, ASC was able to keep the fixed head coupe’s angular hood shape. Believed to be unique in the UK, Ed’s car also differs from the surviving EXA cabriolets as it had been painted white when it was in Japan.

As a relaunch to the well-respected RADwood name, the event deserves every chance to succeed. Like Hagerty’s better-known event, it is focused on the owner and their relationship with their car. Classic Car shows are evolving, and there’s much to be said about RADwoods approach to uniting owners of modern classics, and its approach and inclusive vibe will hopefully help RADwood become a regular fixture in the classic car calendar.