It’s harder than ever to put on a good car show these days. Due to established events, the growing anti-car sentiment around the world, and the fact that more and more young car groups are trying to stay on the scene, really interesting and innovative programs are difficult to create.
I’d rather bring you event coverage and spotlights from the cream of the crop in Europe, but I always keep my ear to the ground, listening to the whispers of new shows establishing themselves among the giants.
One such “David” from the “Goliaths” car scene is Tucked, which I featured in 2020 and 2021.
Since then I’ve been delighted to see Tucked become a household name in the UK. Seeing that they offered an interesting location for their 2023 launch, I decided to blow the cobwebs off my beloved BMW, drive it up and see what’s up.
The Tucked at the Museum exhibition is held at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, just behind Jaguar Land Rover’s (now JLR) HQ in Warwick. A far cry from the hotel parking lot I had visited three years ago, I was excited to see what TATM 2023 had to offer.
First, the museum itself, where a V8-powered Ariel Atom greets you upon entry. A very strong start.
The Atom V8 is one of the best automotive examples of this ‘because we can’ mantra. There’s no good reason to throw a 500hp, 10,600rpm flat-crank V8 into a half-smooth shopping cart. It doesn’t have to be either, it’s glorious.
Around the corner is the main showroom, with a mix of British classics and some quirky creations and unique prototypes.
May my heart continue to beat, a collection of heritage Jaguar racing cars lined up in one place.
As much of a Beemer as I am, I am fascinated by vintage Jaguar racers, so to see a selection from the 70s to the early 2000s under one roof is amazing.
A hit or two from the Broadspeed Group 2 XJC 12 and the IMSA Group 44 E-Type V12 left me on the floor.
The historic footage of the XJC 12s in battle against the BMW 3.0 CSLs is seared into my memory, and the roar of the V12 engines around the track is simply phenomenal.
The IMSA E-Type racer is a different beast on the outside. The curves are also pumped up, but while the XJC has a brutally bluff nose and tall greenhouse, the E-Type is slick and smooth, with only the roller hoop and a shallow spoiler protruding from the beltline.
Both interiors can be said to be functional…
…However, the XJC 12 retains the wood veneer dashboard. We must not forget that this Yeaah dear reader, a luxury GT car. Anything less than wood would be wrong.
If the road less traveled is more your bag, don’t worry. In the museum, you will be surrounded by an exhibition of exemplary Land Rover models. Whether you’re a fan of a clean Range Rover…
…Or you’ve seen a bit more action, there’s plenty to choose from.
As a child of the 90s, I have fond memories of magazine articles and TV shows about the launch of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport. Building on the hype of the ‘sporty’ Range Rover, the Range Stormer took the idea one step further. Its V8 engine, scissor doors, volcanic orange paint, and “crushed ice” taillights burned this ball of fire into a young Mario’s mind.
The Range Stormer is my favorite when it comes to concept cars, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
“But Mario, I want a ballistic Jaguar powerplant and the go-anywhere capability of a Range Rover in one car.”
You really want to have your cake and eat it too, huh? Step this way…
Let me introduce you to this Group B pocket rocket, the MG Metro 6R4. With a Jaguar XJ220 twin-turbo V6 in the middle, four-wheel drive and enough suspension travel to clear a lot of ground, it certainly fits the bill. Was the 6R4 particularly successful in rallying? No, not really. Is it particularly attractive? Not in my eyes. But is it cool? Yes, very much so.
After finishing my tour of the museum, I made my way over to the Tucked itself…
What I have always enjoyed about Tucked events is the breadth of cars on display. Take their own position, for example. An Air Lift performance– equipped A90 Toyota Supra with carbon fiber mounts and Work Meister wheels alongside one of the cleanest VW Sciroccos I’ve ever seen.
Brad Pajak’s Scirocco is actually so clean it deserves its own spotlight, and it’s coming soon.
This S14 Nissan 200SX certainly changed the tone and is a good example of a car changing hands in the scene and evolving in style and taste. In previous ownership it was a very low S14 painted in Nardo Grey, with wide split rims. Now lifted, it wears a paint job that pays homage to the drift cars of its era, and is fitted with a set of Nismo LMGT4 wheels that are semi-slick.
A few days before TATM 2023 I saw this Nissan drive up to me in London and I heard it almost hit the curb, it was out of sight. It looks like the current owner is actually using that big Garrett turbocharger.
New BMWs are visually challenging vehicles that throw aside design language for generations and simply shock buyers into dealerships. The F87 BMW M2 is, for me, one of the last truly handsome cars to come from the Bavarian marque.
Air Lift Performance suspension, a subtle lip kit, and Work Meisters tucked under the arches make for a very well-rounded package.
Ahh, the age-old question:Baggy or static?
A large turnout of Japanese cars is always good to see, especially if it’s just JDM examples. We really love a special or rare car here in the UK, whether from the Far East or across the Atlantic.
However, I certainly did not expect to see an ex-race NASCAR Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado in front of the museum entrance. I believe that no matter where your ‘main’ interest in cars lies, be it German, Japanese or Italian supercars, everyone has a place for a ridiculously large V8 muscle car.
Hiding in the Museum, this year a burnt-out competition was organized in the fenced-off part of the site, where pre-selected applicants competed to see who could smoke the most.
The BMW M235i put in a valiant effort, but I think the Dodge Challenger won the award on the day.
The owner was certainly dedicated and his friend made a nice little memento to remember the next day when he finished.
In addition to the burnouts, there was live music on stage, historical race footage in the museum’s cinema, and a roller coaster – plenty of entertainment for spectators alongside the show cars.
Diversity is key to a good, well-rounded event, and it’s good to see Lee and the team at Tucked making an effort to maintain the laid-back vibe that’s been so appealing to their smaller shows and events over the years.
The choice of venue for TATM 2023 was great, the displays inside were a nice change from the usual modified fare parked in the show itself.
Tucked has grown into a very enjoyable show on the day, good to see from its humble beginnings all those years ago.
It’s hard to put on a good car show these days, but events like Tucked give hope to the younger generations of fans. While we’re modifying cars, people who want to bring our community together will find a way to do so.
Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn
