The Festival of the Unexceptional returns for its 11th year, honoring overlooked classics from the 1970s to the 1990s.
Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional (FOTU) returns for its 11th year on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Grimsthorpe Castle, once again challenging the traditional definition of a classic car by celebrating the mundane, the mass-produced, and the magnificently average.
Unlike traditional concours events where Ferrari Daytonas or Aston Martins bask in the spotlight, FOTU rolls out the red carpet for humble heroes like the Austin Maxi, Vauxhall Nova, and Peugeot 309. These are the everyday cars that once lined Britain’s roads in droves—now cherished rarities lovingly preserved by devoted owners.
The event’s hallmark attraction, the Concours de l’Ordinaire, judges 50 carefully selected “unexceptional” classics in front of the castle, not for their horsepower or price tag, but for their authenticity, backstories, and meticulous preservation of their original spec.
This year’s featured stories include Amy Jaine’s 1998 Renault Clio, originally owned by her grandmother, and a Toyota Hilux that took top honors thanks to its condition and sentimental journey. FOTU’s appeal lies in the emotional connection people have with these once-ordinary cars—vehicles that defined family road trips, first driving lessons, and commutes past corner shops and cul-de-sacs.
Hagerty UK Managing Director Mark Roper notes the event’s growing popularity: “FOTU isn’t just about the cars—it’s about the people. These cars are accessible, relatable, and often still affordable. Each year, the crowd gets younger, and that’s essential to the future of classic car enthusiasm.”
