Hagerty's Festival of the Unexceptional spotlights the charm of ordinary cars

The Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional returns for its 12th year on Saturday, 25th July. This quirky event celebrates the most ordinary cars ever made, gathering them at Grimsthorpe Castle estate in Lincolnshire. Enthusiasts will see a mix of forgotten, overlooked, and thoroughly average vehicles from past decades. The festival’s centrepiece, the Concours de l'Ordinaire, will showcase fifty carefully chosen cars from hundreds of entries. Among them is a 1990 Trabant 1.1, one of the last models with a 1.1-litre four-stroke engine. Another standout is a 1979 Renault 14, a car often called the worst Renault ever built.

Visitors can also spot a 2000 Kia Clarus Wagon, a rare sight with only three estate versions left in the Netherlands. A 1999 Ford Fiesta Finesse, barely used with just 4,000 miles in 27 years, will be on display. Alongside it sits a 1996 Seat Ibiza 1.9D with 46,000 miles and a 2000 Escort Mk6 van, known for its no-frills, functional history.

One of the rarest finds is a 1992 Toyota Previa, a survivor with only 26,000 miles. Each car tells a story of practicality, neglect, or quiet endurance—qualities that make them perfect for this unique celebration. The event highlights cars that were never meant to be special but have outlasted expectations. From the Trabant’s simple engineering to the Fiesta’s near-pristine condition, these vehicles offer a nostalgic look at motoring’s less glamorous side. The festival continues to grow, proving that even the most unremarkable cars have their own devoted following.