The world-renowned Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional will return to the spectacular, and some might say, appropriately named for the event, Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire on Saturday 26th July 2025.

If you happen to have garage classics from past decades, entries for the exceptional Concours de L’Ordinaire of unexceptional cars are now open.

The increasingly popular event is the alternative to the superstar-styled events such as Goodwood and Silverstone.

Building on the popular

Last year was the 10th Anniversary of this unique event that celebrates long-forgotten everyday family cars.

With each passing year, the event has evolved, gaining a popular reputation around the world and attracting many entries from overseas.

2024 saw a record attendance, with over 2,000 cars and more than 4,000 visitors lining the castle grounds, as well as other stalls, exhibits, and entertainment.

The public display featured an eclectic mix, ranging from a perfectly unexceptional Vauxhall Belmont to a base-spec, hubcap-shod W140 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and everything in between.

Hagerty’s real purpose is to save driving and car culture for future generations to see, feel and understand.

Understanding the past for the present

This event is all about the cars that shaped most of our childhoods —practical, uninspiring, and interestingly coloured vehicles of ordinary life.

It is a thorough nostalgia trip, but as well as a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the ordinary, it is also a celebration of motoring history and the evolution of the popular family car.

A completely unrestored 1982 Toyota Hilux won the Concours de L’Ordinare to be crowned the coveted 2024 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional Champion.

The car has been a workhorse for much of its life, having been used on a fruit farm since it was new, but it was completely original, absolutely immaculate and thoroughly unexceptional.

Other category winners included a 1998 Renault Clio, an Applejack Austin Metro and a Sunderland-built Nissan Primera.

Bigger and better

New for 2025 is the expansion of entry requirements to span 1970-2000.

This opens up a world of 90s models, including the ‘marmite effect’ Fiat Multipla, Peugeot 406, Chrysler PT Cruiser and even early versions of the Audi A2, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

The live stage will host speakers and entertainment, including live music and some ‘very special guests’ to be announced.

Naturally, there will be plenty of catering and refreshment options to suit all tastes, as well as plenty of alternative entertainment options for the kids.

Something for everyone

“Last year’s record attendance shows just how much everyone loves the unexceptional cars that they or their parents grew up with” says Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty International.

“This year the Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional is going to be bigger and better than ever and with the expanded list of qualifying years, the Concours de L’Ordinaire is going to bring some fascinating and no less unexceptional cars that we have not seen in the event before. FOTU is our biggest event of the year, and I and the rest of the team can’t wait to celebrate unexceptional cars in exceptional style with everyone.”

You can find more information at the Hagerty UK website.