Meeting of mundane motors: 1982 Toyota Hilux crowned best car at Festival of the Unexceptional

When most petrolheads hear the words ‘car show’, they think of gatherings of ultra-rare classics worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and displays of exotic supercars.

But this weekend saw the return of a car show that goes against convention.

The Festival of the Unexceptional is a unique motoring event designed to celebrate long-forgotten everyday family cars many of us would have owned during the 1970s to 1990s. 

Some 2,000 once-popular vehicles from the era descended on the grounds of Grimsthrope Castle in Lincolnshire. Of 50 cherished mundane motors picked out to compete in its ‘concours’ showpiece, this year’s winner was an immaculate 1982 Toyota Hilux.

Can you spot any models you’ve previously owned? 

Some 2,000 once-popular vehicles from the ‘unexceptional era’ descended on the grounds of Grimsthrope Castle in Lincolnshire at the weekend

The quirky event has become one of the big dates on the summer motoring calendar, with this year’s show another sell-out with 4,000 people in attendance.

Hosted by classic car insurer Hagerty, it offers the opportunity for owners of undesirable vehicles from 1969 to 1999 to showcase cars that commonly ended up in scrapyards and have since disappeared from our roads as a result.

The weekend’s showcase was the tenth instalment and was its biggest yet with more showgoers and cars than ever before.

Fifty cars are picked to enter a concours show. The winner’s trophy for the 2024 event was awarded to Mitch Lewis and his pristine Toyota Hilux pick-up. A workhorse on a strawberry-picking farm from new, it has just 20,000 miles on the clock and is entirely original and in immaculate condition

From left to right: Amy Jaine’s 1998 Renault Clio which was awarded runner-up in the best in show;  Luca Alpert’s German-registered Nissan Primera won the Retro Repmobile trophy; Mitch Lewis’ crowned Toyota Hilus; Colin Corke’s Applejack Austin Metro was winner of the Chairman’s Award

The winner’s trophy for the 2024 event was awarded to Mitch Lewis and his pristine Toyota Hilux pick-up. 

A workhorse on a strawberry-picking farm from new, it clocked 10,000 miles under its original lady owner.

Since Mitch purchased the Hilux he’s put another 10,000 miles on it, though it remains completely original and in absolutely immaculate condition. 

To prepare for the event, the car was simply ‘cleaned well, and driven to the event,’ according to its owner.

Owners of a 1997 Toyota Paseo and 2003 Toyota Yaris congregate behind their motors 

A 1994 Proton 1.5 GL drives up to the entrance of the show, followed closely by a Mk1 Ford Fiesta

The mix of vehicles is particularly varied, including those selected for the Concours showpiece. From left to right is a 1994 Reliant Robin next to Colin Corke’s 1981 Metro and a 1995 Alfa Romeo 145

This is the only show you’ll likely see someone meticulously cleaning a 1989 Proton GL Black Knight. This is the motor than one the best in show award in 2021

Showing just how eclectic the mix of machinery on display at the festival is, the second place trophy was awarded to Amy Jaine’s 1998 Renault Clio. 

The French supermini was originally owned by her grandmother, bought to take her grandchildren on days out.

Many years later it was destined to be scrapped as it was no longer used. However, Amy rescued it and says she now uses it to return the favour to ferry her grandmother around, on days out.

Another gong was handed out for the ‘Retro Repmobile Award’, which was presented to German Luca Alpert and his Nissan Primera. 

Luca is 21, drives the Primera daily and travelled all the way from Hanover to enter the 2024 Festival of the Unexceptional. 

A fleet of first-generation Ford Focus arrive at the show. The model launched in 1998, meaning it just squeezes into the unexceptional era

One of the big highlights of this year’s event was the attendance of this car – the last Austin Montego to be produced, which was supplied from the British Motor Museum’s collection. It’s signed by the assembly line that built it

A pair of Bond Bug three-wheelers. Reliant built these two-seater, wedge-shape micocars from 1970 to 1974. They famously feature a lift-up canopy and side screens instead of conventional doors

The range of models in attendance is a selection of the most boring vehicles from a forgotten era, including many Vauxhall Novas and Ford Fiesta

There aren’t many shows where a Fiat Multipla might attract adoring looks, but one is the Festival of the Unexceptional

Taking the last available prize – the Chairman’s Award – was Colin Corke for his Applejack Metro – the eighth time he’s entered the concours at the festival and the first time he’s taken home a crown.

There were a few significant motors on display given their historical value. 

One of them among the 4,000-strong parade of vehicles was the very last Austin Montego to be produced, which was supplied from the British Motor Museum’s collection.

Among the 50 cars in the concours show of the best-kept cars was a 1996 Fiat Punto (left) and 1994 Vauxhall Corsa, both in stunning condition

This stretch 1996 Rover 827 might just be one of the least cool limos in existence. Parked alongside it is a nineties 900 Series Volvo

This early Ford Mondeo is another example of once very popular family cars from the 1990s that has rapidly depleted in numbers in recent years

The event, hosted at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, was a sell out. Some 4,000 people attended with 2,000 vehicles

Hagerty, the classic car insurer that organises the event, says it is an important part of ‘securing the future of classic cars’ and offers the chance for younger enthusiasts to get involved with the cars they own – some of them older than they are

Thousands of other cars from the generation lined the castle grounds for as far as the eye could see, with many owners having travelled hundreds of miles to be there. 

The public display had a wide offering of vehicles, ranging from a perfectly unexceptional Vauxhall Belmont to a base-spec W140 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and everything in-between.

Mark Roper, managing director of Hagerty International, said: ‘Festival of the Unexceptional is an important part of securing the future of classic cars, with many young enthusiasts attending to show their FOTU-era cars.’