Bicester Motion October 2025 Scramble: 2025’s final ode to British motoring culture

Britain’s best-loved motoring meet closed out 2025 in style as Bicester Motion’s October Scramble transformed its historic RAF base into a living showcase of restomods, craftsmanship, and modern engineering flair, writes motoring editor Mark G. Whitchurch

Held on Sunday, 5 October, the final Scramble of 2025 was themed Reboots & Restomods, as a nod to the past and a look to the future. The event once again sold out well in advance and filled the former RAF site at Bicester Heritage with cars that bridged eras of design and performance.

The Orchard Car Paddock was a highlight, lined with reimagined classics that underlined why the restomod movement continues to thrive. Two of Theon Design’s latest Porsche 911-based coupes stood out for their carbon-clad precision, attracting equal admiration from traditionalists and younger enthusiasts. Nearby, the TWR Supercat, a modern reinterpretation of the Jaguar XJS, drew steady crowds with its combination of muscular styling and modern engineering from TWR Performance.

The Eagle E-Type Low Drag GT No.5 was among the standouts thanks to its hand-formed aluminium bodywork and exacting detail. It set a high bar for craftsmanship, indeed.

Over at the Hagerty Clubhouse, the rare road-going version of the Peugeot 205 T16 Group B rally car drew attention for its rawness and pedigree. Its box arches and turbocharged growl recalled rallying’s most unrestrained era. Parked close by, a Frontline-developed MGB offered a more understated but equally refined example of British engineering.

Visitors drifting into Kingsbury Racing’s restoration yard found a scene straight out of a motorsport time capsule. The team’s ex-JTCC and DTM Schnitzer E30 M3 sat ready for a fire-up, its straight-six bark stopping conversations mid-sentence. Inside the workshops, pre-war Bentleys sat in various stages of rebuild — a rare glimpse behind the scenes at one of Britain’s top restoration firms.

Minis were everywhere. CALLUM Designs’ Wood & Pickett Mini was a highlight, combining classic charm with modern luxury, from its quilted leather interior to its discreet infotainment system. Just a few steps away, two 1959-spec Austin Minis — fresh from the Goodwood Revival’s St Mary’s Trophy — stood together like twin terriers. The cars were conceived by Austin Cars Ltd managing director Mark Burnett, working with Owens Fabrication and Swiftune Engineering to build a pair of racers from the ground up. Their appearance at Bicester added genuine motorsport authenticity to the day’s proceedings.

Broad Arrow Auctions also joined the line-up, displaying its new UK headquarters in the MT Yard and offering the famous ex-works Rally Mini 8 EMO for sale at £260,000.

At Plant Zero, visitors were welcomed by the team from Zero Petroleum, home to the world’s first fully featured synthetic fuel plant. Their demonstration focused on how carbon-neutral fuels could preserve the sound and sensation of internal combustion while eliminating dependence on fossil sources.

BMW’s presence struck a chord with enthusiasts. Rather than trailering in cars, the brand drove its historic press fleet to the event. Among them, the E46 M3 CSL — widely regarded as one of the marque’s best — stood out with its carbon-fibre roof and unmistakable exhaust note. It was joined by the M2 CS, a modern example that demonstrated the continuity of BMW’s M-division philosophy.

Polestar marked five years in the UK with a minimalist pavilion that balanced Scandinavian design and electric innovation. The new Polestar 5 took centre stage, surrounded by the brand’s full line-up, including one of its Arctic Circle development cars still bearing its test scars. Placing a range of EVs in front of a petrol-loving crowd was a bold move, but it paid off. Many visitors stopped to ask questions and left with a more open view of what performance could look like in a post-combustion world.

Marque anniversaries also featured prominently. At the western end of the site, Lotus celebrated 50 years of the Esprit with a display featuring examples from every generation. The XJ-S Club marked the same milestone for Jaguar’s long-running grand tourer, presenting an immaculate line-up beside the 1990s paddock. First launched with a V12 engine to rival the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of its day, the XJ-S remained in production for two decades and became one of Jaguar’s most successful models.

As always, the Scramble’s appeal extended beyond the cars. Members’ vehicles lined the avenues, from pre-war specials to modern supercars, while the open workshops and red-brick buildings gave visitors the chance to see restorers and engineers at work. Food trucks served everything from coffee to burgers, and the atmosphere remained relaxed, sociable and unmistakably British.

Mark G. Whitchurch is a seasoned motoring journalist whose work—covering road tests, launch reports, scenic drives, major races, and event reviews—has appeared in The Observer, Daily Telegraph, Bristol Evening Post, Classic & Sports Car Magazine, Mini Magazine, Classic Car Weekly, AutoCar Magazine, and the Western Daily Press, among others. He won the Tourism Malaysia Regional Travel Writer of the Year in 2003 and is a member of The Guild of Motoring Writers.

READ MORE: ‘On the trail of Captain Corelli: discovering Paros and Antiparos on two wheels‘. Mark G. Whitchurch explores the whitewashed villages, sandy beaches and turquoise seas of Paros and Antiparos astride a Royal Enfield Classic 350.

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_{All photos: Mark G Whitchurch}