Eight for the Arctic

We’re still on a high from the Snowstorm Rally.  I mean seriously, what a trip it was.  All the way to the Arctic and back, through the snow, the ice, the epic wildernesses and the monumental roads.  And a big part of what made it great was the variety of different cars which undertook the drive, and the lengths their owners went to in preparing their cars for the trip.  From custom stickers to extra spotlights, vintage ski-racks to a grille-mounted moose, everyone really got into the spirit of the event and made the machines an absolute spectacle.  And this has gotten us thinking – what cars would we love to see on the 2026 event?  Here are eight suggestions – one for each country we passed through on the trip.

01 – Saab 900

On the inaugural Snowstorm Rally, we had an epic selection of Volvos, including a trio of 240s, a C70 and some XC90s – all of the main Volvos were covered, with the exception of a hefty estate.  But where were the Saabs?  No-one brought along a vehicle from the ‘other’ Swedish manufacturer, unfortunately.  Which is a bit of a shame in our eyes, as let’s face it, the old ‘900 is designed for Arctic conditions, it’s as tough as old boots, and it’d look great parked outside the Saab museum in Trollhattan.  Please someone, make it happen.

Here's a convertible Turbo being auctioned on eBay at the moment:

02 – Subaru Impreza

Endless roads coated in snow and ice, sweeping left and right between the snow banks – if that doesn’t sound like the natural habitat of an Impreza, or its Mitsubishi  equivalent, then I don’t know what does.  And entry to the Snowstorm Rally comes with carte-blanche permission to add as many spotlights, 555 stickers and suchlike as you wish, to build your dream rally replica.  When you get to the Arctic, nothing would look better.  And nothing will be more surefooted on the drive there and back.  So, an Impreza – it’s a no-brainer, really.

While for us the dream would be an original McRae-era Scooby, here's a later one in the right colour, which has been photographed in the snow. Because lets face it, you can't really go wrong with any of the early generations of Impreza.

03 – an MGF

Hear me out on this one.  Because while an MGF isn’t everyone’s cup of tea in the image-conscious UK, the further from London it gets the more sense it makes.  And up in the Arctic, you’ll find the mid-mounted engine will help traction, while the resultant weight distribution should make for a pleasantly controllable machine when the traction is low.  Add in the fact it’s cheap, and would look awesome with a set of huge rally spotlights strapped to the front, and you’ve got the beginnings of a great fortnight away.

Naturally, if you’d prefer an NB Mazda MX5, or BMW Z3, then feel free – just be sure to get some weight over the rear wheels to help with traction before you get too far north.

£1,500 for a tidy, V-reg MGF with only 54,000 miles on the clock - these are conspicuously good value at the moment. So, there should be enough left in the kitty to buy a hard top, if you wish to keep the Arctic out.

04 – An Audi S8 (Ronin spec)

Effortlessly cool on the outside, incredibly competent on the inside, this is the ultimate in arctic luxury.  Combining relatively light weight from its aluminium construction with a fine V8, 4 wheel drive for decent traction and a cosseting cabin from the days when Audi were leftfield-cool, an S8 is the car for those who want to cut a stylish dash across the Arctic in perfect comfort.  No need for stickers and spotlights with this one, though you may want a nitrous kit.  Because Ronin.

Tempted? £6k buys this one

05 – Reliant Scimitar

Some cars have a look which just cries out for a mad-max/winter rally makeover.  The Scimitar is one of those.  Some chunky tyres, spotlights, a roof rack and a cool paint scheme, and possibly a slight suspension lift, and you’ll have one hell of an adventure wagon.  Add in the fruity V6 up front, the drive going to the back, and the practical breadvan style, and you’ll have an adventure steed for which the trip to the Arctic is just the start.

Not the cheapest one out there, but here's a starter for ten... or for £5,750, to be exact.

06 – Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

Well, if it’s good enough for Harry’s Garage, then it’s good enough for us.  Admittedly it’s not the most original choice, and the fuel bill may make you wince, but let’s face it – credit cards get paid off; glory lasts forever.  And you simply can’t buy the ability to start conversations with sentences like ‘and this one time, when I was crossing the Arctic in my Rolls-Royce’.  So, an old Rolls, or the Bentley equivalent.  We highly recommend buying one and driving it to the Arctic like a Sir, before they all get too pricey.

There are still a few cheap ones of these around - here's one up for £4,000...

07 – An early Audi TT

Sounds uninspiring?  Hear me out.  They came with all wheel drive, and a turbo, so they’ll be good - and fun - in the snow.  They’re cheap, and being VWs, they’re cheap to run as well.  They lend themselves to a 1980s Audi rally colour scheme, 4 spotlights and a rack on the roof and couple more on the front grille, and they’re comfortable and practical enough to prevent the trip becoming a chore.  An early TT may be an uninspiring choice for, say, a track build, but for an Arctic weapon, it makes a huge amount of sense.

Possibly the cheapest option on the list, this. Here's one for £950

08 – A Fiat 126

This suggestion is rather self indulgent, as our first-ever trip to the Arctic was made in a ‘Maluch’ – basically, we’d decided it was the car from Hell, so we’d decided to drive it to Hell.  You know, the village of Hell, near Trondheim.  Anyway, it was slow, uncomfortable, rattily, freezing cold and it broke down the one time we stopped the engine north of the Arctic Circle.   So really, it’s a terrible choice.  And that’s why it’s a great choice, really – what an adventure you’ll have!  We certainly did, that’s for sure…

Here's one just like the one we took to the Arctic. Ours cost £200, but how times have changed...

So, that's our eight initial thoughts on a steed for next year's trip to the Arctic. We're sure you have your own ideas, though, and we're looking forward to seeing what you bring along next year - full details on the 2026 Snowstorm Rally can be found here.