The 2026 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional was – there’s no other word for it – exceptional.
The annual celebration of mundane motoring was a total sell-out, with 2,500 humdrum cars filling the grounds of Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire. More than 4,500 partisans of the prosaic came along to lust after Ladas, admire Allegros, and get hot and bothered over Hondas.
There was music from Spilt Milk, a live podcast and all manner of trivial pursuits from Smith and Sniff on the main stage, and a display featuring some The Telegraph’s UK’s Rarest Cars. Where else would find the only surviving Lancia Trevi Automatic? Young Driver was on hand to ensure that the joy of driving gets passed on to the next generation, and British Motor Heritage came along with legends of British Leyland.
The Grand Tour host Francis Bourgeouis joined the crowds, parking his pink Honda Jazz in amongst the other unexceptional cars and ogling the ordinary with everyone else.
The Festival of the Unexceptional really is unlike any other classic car show. Open to vehicles made between 1971 and 2001 it’s a chance for the unloved and unremembered by the masses to have their day. Except, of course, that the cars that are brought to FOTU are very much loved by their owners.
That’s exemplified by the annual Concours de L’Ordinaire, where the Hagerty UK team had pre-selected 50 cars out of thousands of entries to be on display in the courtyard of the castle and be examined by our panel of judges.
“I was involved in the panel that selected the final group that went in there,” noted Richard “Sniff Petrol” Porter. “The quality of entry was unbelievable. It was so hard to decide, so everyone who’s got a car in there is a winner. Not to make it sound like primary school, but it really is the case.”
The final judging panel of Steve Cropley, Steph Hoy, Richard Bremner, Jesse Billington, Antony Ingram, Gary Axon, and Jon Bentley had their work cut out choosing the best of the banal. In fact, so high was the standard of entries, that the judges awarded no less than four highly-commended prizes.
First up was Jack Duxbury’s hard-working 1991 Ford P100 Popular TD. Handing over a goodie bag to Jack, Richard Porter said: “The judges appreciated the dedication that was required and put into a car that would ordinarily have been scrapped. And the reason for that is because this really is just a working vehicle. There’s little sentimentality about these machines, but thank goodness for this one there is.”
Emma Rowe’s 1994 Honda Civic Bali Edition also won praise. It’s just one of many Civics in Emma’s possession, so we expect her to be back next year with another.
Maia Egan’s 1982 Fiat 127 Comfort was another car to be highlighted. The judges are always suckers for a heart-warming backstory and Maia has a strong family connection to the 127 as her aunt owned one when she was growing up.
Rick Martens brought his extremely rare 1986 Citröen Axel over from the Netherlands. “This is a car that requires real dedication to own and run, and this hobby needs owners like Rick,” said Richard.
Also from the Netherlands was Marwin Jansen and his 2000 Kia Clarus Wagon. Marwin is so dedicated to the drab Kia that he even had a shirt made to match the seat fabric.
Before the top three in the Concours were announced, our friends at British Motor Heritage also popped onto the main stage to award their own prize, which went to Allan Symes for his 1985 Nissan Prairie, or “a little house on wheels,” as he called it.
Now, on to the very best of the boring. In third place was Jake Seddon’s 2001 Ford Focus. “Third place was given by the judges to a car that was owned by the owner’s grandfather, was restored by the owner’s dad,” explained prize-giver Richard Porter. “It’s also the kind of car they say that’s rapidly disappearing, and they love the fact that it’s being not only preserved, but also being used.”
In second spot was the 1992 Toyota Previa of Matt Swinn. “You wouldn’t expect a car like this to be preserved. Full stop,” said Richard. Matt has kept the car exactly as he bought it, even framing the assorted detritus he found under the seats, including a KitKat wrapper and BP vouchers.
Finally, the big one. The winner of the Concours de L’Ordinaire was Gordon McNeill’s 2001 Volkswagen Polo E. Gordon won for his total commitment to the Polo. “He’s owned it for 20 years. He used it as his wedding car, yet he’s also taken it to the Nürburgring. It’s his first and only car, and he still uses it as a daily driver. It’s in a condition that is a great credit to him,” said Richard.
“Gordon didn’t buy a car to enter the Concours de L’Ordinare, he earned his prize by looking after his car for 20 years. The Polo has clocked 176,000 miles but is not going be retired soon – if ever. “My plan is to keep driving it as my daily driver indefinitely. My Polo is my favourite thing I own,” he said.
“I didn’t even expect to be granted entry given the number of incredibly rare, showroom condition cars that were there. I am so happy that the cars that have proven themselves have been given a chance to be appreciated by others. Since I bought the Polo in 2006 with 44k miles on it, I have added over 130,000 miles that has included a dozen trips to Europe and memorable moments like being able to use it to experience the Nürburgring and many very special places. But more importantly it has taken me to every job I ever had on wet winter mornings, helped me move house eight times and allowed me to drive from London to Brighton every weekend to see my now wife when she lived there. It even fits my full drum kit and passenger which was amazing when I was a music student at university. My Polo and Haynes manual has also taught me a lot about mechanics. So much of my adult life wouldn’t have been possible without the Polo. I was even able to get it ULEZ compliant even though it’s a 2001 car, which is a massive deal since I live in London. For 20 years I have looked after it, but it has always been a very tough little car and has always looked after me and I am still excited every time I get drive it, which for me is every day.”
“Wow. Just when we think the Festival of the Unexceptional can’t get any bigger, it grows again and is more spectacular than ever,” said Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty UK. “What a delight to see the lawns of Grimsthorpe Castle covered with thousands of FOTU cars, being enjoyed by 4500 people from all around the world. Thanks to each and every person who came for their dedication, passion and support of all things FOTU. See you again next year.”
What was the best unexceptional motor you saw this year? Drop your top picks in the comments section below.
