Bigger, better... and yes we brought another tank!
After having such a brilliant time at last year’s PistonHeads Annual Service, there was absolutely no doubt that the 09DESIGN team would be heading back to Bicester Motion for 2026.
The only question was how we could possibly improve on turning up with a tank and a GT3 car...
Naturally, the answer was...bring an even bigger tank!
The 2026 PistonHeads Annual Service returned bigger and better than ever, with the event completely sold out and some 8,000 petrolheads descending on Bicester Motion for what’s fast becoming one of the genuine highlights of the UK automotive calendar.
With the sun shining from start to finish, an incredible selection of machinery spread across the venue and a properly relaxed atmosphere throughout the day, it’s fair to say the 2026 event delivered.
The 2026 PistonHeads Annual Service returned bigger and better than ever, with the event completely sold out and some 8,000 petrolheads descending on Bicester Motion for what’s fast becoming one of the genuine highlights of the UK automotive calendar.
With the sun shining from start to finish, an incredible selection of machinery spread across the venue and a properly relaxed atmosphere throughout the day, it’s fair to say the 2026 event delivered.
We might have set the bar reasonably high with last year’s 09D display, but for 2026 we decided to turn things up another notch.
Taking centre stage this time was our not-exactly-subtle Chieftain tank - because bringing an armoured vehicle to a performance car show is now becoming something of an 09Design tradition.
As if to back up the disbelief at what we'd brought along, most visitors to the stand had to give it a 'tap' to make sure it was indeed a real tank and not some inflatable or replica - for sure, it's the real deal!
Alongside it was our BMW Z4 GT3, our properly-used Mk2 Ford Escort and a selection of ST and RS machinery representing the very different ends of the performance Ford car spectrum.
We were also flying the flag for our sister company, GT101, with a new Heritage Ford GT and 5.0 Mustang GT joining the display - and attracting plenty of attention in the process.
It made for a suitably eclectic stand - modern supercar, V8 muscle car, GT race car, classic rally-bred Ford the best STs from the last decade... and approximately 55 tonnes of British main battle tank.
Standard Saturday, really.
We might have set the bar reasonably high with last year’s 09D display, but for 2026 we decided to turn things up another notch.
Taking centre stage this time was our not-exactly-subtle Chieftain tank - because bringing an armoured vehicle to a performance car show is now becoming something of an 09Design tradition.
As if to back up the disbelief at what we'd brought along, most visitors to the stand had to give it a 'tap' to make sure it was indeed a real tank and not some inflatable or replica - for sure, it's the real deal!
Alongside it was our BMW Z4 GT3, our properly-used Mk2 Ford Escort and a selection of ST and RS machinery representing the very different ends of the performance Ford car spectrum.
We were also flying the flag for our sister company, GT101, with a new Heritage Ford GT and 5.0 Mustang GT joining the display - and attracting plenty of attention in the process.
It made for a suitably eclectic stand - modern supercar, V8 muscle car, GT race car, classic rally-bred Ford the best STs from the last decade... and approximately 55 tonnes of British main battle tank.
Standard Saturday, really.
One of the things we loved most about the Annual Service last year was the sheer variety of cars on display - and somehow 2026 managed to take that another step further.
Rather than being focused around one marque, generation or particular corner of car culture, the Annual Service brings pretty much everything together.
Modern supercars sat alongside classics. Race and rally machinery shared space with modified road cars. There were cars many of us grew up dreaming about alongside some of the very latest performance machinery - It’s exactly the sort of eclectic mix that makes walking around the event genuinely interesting. You never quite know what you're going to find around the next corner.
With 8,000 attendees and a completely sold-out event, Bicester was busy from the moment the gates opened, but the whole day remained impressively relaxed and well organised.
The glorious weather certainly helped too. Blue skies and sunshine lasted throughout the day, creating the perfect backdrop for a venue packed with great cars and even better conversations.
For us, shows like this are about far more than simply putting some cars on a stand. They’re an opportunity to catch up with existing customers, meet people who’ve followed us online, talk cars with fellow enthusiasts and customers and spend an entire day surrounded by the sort of machinery that got most of us interested in this industry in the first place.
And that's probably what PistonHeads has got so right with the Annual Service.
Despite its continued growth, it still feels like a gathering of genuine enthusiasts rather than simply another large commercial car show. The organisation was excellent, the atmosphere remained friendly and relaxed, and the variety of cars meant there really was something interesting for everyone.
Huge thanks to everyone who stopped by the 09D stand, talked cars with the team, took photos and came over to investigate why there was a Chieftain tank sitting in the middle of a PistonHeads show.
As for next year? We’d better start thinking about how we’re going to top a Chieftain tank...
One of the things we loved most about the Annual Service last year was the sheer variety of cars on display - and somehow 2026 managed to take that another step further.
Rather than being focused around one marque, generation or particular corner of car culture, the Annual Service brings pretty much everything together.
Modern supercars sat alongside classics. Race and rally machinery shared space with modified road cars. There were cars many of us grew up dreaming about alongside some of the very latest performance machinery - It’s exactly the sort of eclectic mix that makes walking around the event genuinely interesting. You never quite know what you're going to find around the next corner.
With 8,000 attendees and a completely sold-out event, Bicester was busy from the moment the gates opened, but the whole day remained impressively relaxed and well organised.
The glorious weather certainly helped too. Blue skies and sunshine lasted throughout the day, creating the perfect backdrop for a venue packed with great cars and even better conversations.
For us, shows like this are about far more than simply putting some cars on a stand. They’re an opportunity to catch up with existing customers, meet people who’ve followed us online, talk cars with fellow enthusiasts and customers and spend an entire day surrounded by the sort of machinery that got most of us interested in this industry in the first place.
And that's probably what PistonHeads has got so right with the Annual Service.
Despite its continued growth, it still feels like a gathering of genuine enthusiasts rather than simply another large commercial car show. The organisation was excellent, the atmosphere remained friendly and relaxed, and the variety of cars meant there really was something interesting for everyone.
Huge thanks to everyone who stopped by the 09D stand, talked cars with the team, took photos and came over to investigate why there was a Chieftain tank sitting in the middle of a PistonHeads show.
As for next year? We’d better start thinking about how we’re going to top a Chieftain tank...
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