Race Retro 2026: A Brilliant Start to the Motoring Year

A visit to Race Retro at the start of the year always feels like the beginning of a new motoring season, bringing together historic racing cars, specialists, auctions and some of motorsport’s more unusual stories.

A visit to Race Retro at the start of the year always feels like the beginning of a new motoring season.

For me, it is one of those events that manages to bring together so many different parts of the historic car world under one roof. Historic racing cars, specialists, parts suppliers, medicals, new ideas, model cars and automobilia all mix together, while the large auction held by Iconic Auctioneers, formerly Silverstone Auctions, adds another very enjoyable dimension to the weekend.

There is always plenty to see, but inevitably a few cars stand out.

A 1958 Fiat Abarth 750 Allemano Spider

One for me this year was this 1958 Fiat Abarth 750 Allemano Spider.

At under £30,000 it was not an expensive car by today’s classic-car standards, but what a lovely thing. Rare, beautifully proportioned and full of character, it was exactly the sort of car that draws you in.

I have always liked cars that are a little different, and this Fiat is a perfect example. It does not need to shout. The size, the delicate Allemano bodywork and, of course, the Abarth connection give it huge charm.

Sometimes it is very easy to become distracted by values in the classic car world, but cars such as this are a good reminder that price and appeal are not necessarily connected. I could quite happily have taken this one home.

The Volvo Estate That Changed Expressions

Elsewhere in the show was something completely different, this wonderful Volvo estate touring car.

What a coup that was.

It is easy to forget just what an impact the Volvo made when it first appeared. An estate car in a major Touring Car Championship seemed almost comical.

People smiled when they saw it.

Then it started racing.

And their expressions changed.

More Than a Publicity Exercise

The brilliant thing was that it was not there simply as a publicity exercise. It was a proper racing car, and seeing that familiar Volvo estate shape being driven hard amongst the more conventional touring cars was quite something.

It was such a clever idea. Instantly recognisable, completely unexpected and, most importantly, competitive enough to be taken seriously.

That long roofline charging around a circuit still looks wonderfully unlikely today.

Brilliant. What a sight.

The Enduring Appeal of Race Retro

That, for me, is one of the great pleasures of Race Retro. You go expecting to see familiar historic competition cars and invariably come away having been reminded of something you had forgotten, or having discovered something you did not know.

There are beautiful cars, clever ideas and wonderfully eccentric moments from motorsport history everywhere you look.

Not a bad way to start another year.

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