Rollhard x bicester heritage 2023
And just like that, another year has gone by and we’re back at the UK’s centre of Motoring Excellence - the ex-Bomber Command base and photographer’s dream location that is Bicester Heritage - for the 2023 instalment of the RollHard show.
Last year saw the RH team take on the Technical Site for the first time, and this year they filled not only the Technical Site, but also Hangar 113, which took on a very red-flavoured theme, as well as housing the traders for the show. Not only did this mean that the Hangar had a 'feel’ all of its own, but it also allowed a very specific area to be set aside for traders (with food trucks and stands out the front) meaning that the show site was exactly that - just for show. We’re sure the traders were extra happy about this choice later in the day, as no doubt it also helped keep stock dry when the weather decided to take a turn for the worse!
Both greens were packed to the gunwales with cars, whilst inside the technical site the standard was sky-high; likely the best we’ve ever seen at a show, with no sign of any cars that made us ask the age old question “wait, what’s THAT doing in the show?.”
Perhaps the greatest part of the RollHard show - quality and standards aside - is the sheer variety of the cars on display, which is not only a treat for us guests and photographers, but also speaks volumes about the reach and quality of the RollHard brand, how it bridges cultures and brings everyone together over their love of cars, modifications and automotive culture.
So, without further ado, SHIFT presents our coverage of RollHard x Bicester Heritage 2023.
Green 964 on the green? Check. As more and more of these air-cooled greats are being modified and back-dated, it’s always refreshing to see a well-kept 964 without any back-date parts or unnecessary chrome ‘upgrades’ being fitted.
We’ll always love air-cooled Beetles here at SHIFT; our editor grew up going to Volksworld shows years before going freelance, so these iconic flat-four peoples’ cars will forever hold a special place in our heart.
Is it just us, or is that RX-7 trying to flirt?
And now for something almost totally different - this eye-catching Exige is the antithesis for the majority of the cars on display; lightweight and all about on-road handling, there is a reason these Lotus’ have such a great reputation for being a true ‘drivers car’ for those that are happy to sacrifice a little comfort along the way…
The current-generation Toyota Supra is a cracking bit of design from the factory (and its a crime how few of them seem to be out on the roads) but this particular example (@alex_tucked on IG) takes things one step further, again proving the theory that even the best-looking cars look better with an altitude adjustment and some wheels, yet alone all the other work that’s gone into this build. One of our favourites of the day!
Fun for all the family; this minty-fresh RSQ3 proved that practicality doesn’t have to be plain…
The third-generation TT still looks every inch as fresh today as it did when launched back in 2014, and this example looked fantastic in Green against the dark tones of the new-era Bicester Motion buildings.
Causing plenty of noise whenever we walked past it, this Healey Sprite-based race car certainly looked the part, mixing the Sprite’s trademark ‘happy frog’ appearance with some serious performance. Very cool!
Now, onto one of the show’s main attractions: The RWB area.
Seeing one of these hand-crafted show-stoppers is rare enough; having three in one area (and one as photogenic as Bicester Heritage) is something else entirely. Each one with its own personal touches, its own character and style, yet all intimately linked by the hands of Akira Nakai-san.
Whether you’re a fan of outlandish builds such as this or you think it’s pure sacrilege on four wheels, there’s no denying the sheer presence that each of these one-off creations possess.
Fast wagons will always be cool, especially in E46 form.
The team at RollHard were delighted to welcome the hangar back to the show setup for this year, utilising the space to house the various traders at the show, along with curating an all-red (for the purposes of this, Burgundy is counted as a shade of red) display.
Perhaps we’re looking into it too deeply here, but despite being linked by one colour (or various shades thereof) the variety of styles and disciplines on display together is the perfect metaphor for everything that the RollHard brand stands for, and a message that we firmly support here at SHIFT.
50 (2) shades of Green…
Panda! Told you RollHard is all about variety…
Further adding to the melting pot of automotive culture on display at the event, the Brewery Yard played host to the low-rider display, utilising everything from the classic Chevrolets and ‘yank tanks’ to a Honda Civic to show off the incredible artwork and engineering that goes into building these heavily-customised creations.
Mica (@mica.dori) once again pushing the boundaries between automotive customisation and outright art on wheels with her incredible 190E build. Everywhere you look you notice something new, it really is nothing short of absolutely sensational.
Anyone for some gum?
One of the highlights of the show - this utterly brilliant 2002 Turbo, now packing a M42 Turbo under the bonnet, BBC wheels and a full Airlift setup.
Despite the mixed weather, once again the RollHard team put on a show to remember, solidifying the event as one of the premier shows of the UK car scene calendar. Now that they’ve got the hangar back in use, surely the next logical step is to open up part of the Bicester Heritage circuit for some live-action entertainment… surely?
