Unexceptional Cars in the US? Yep, We Had ’Em, Too

There isn't a car show quite like this in America. Hagerty's Festival of the Unexceptional is gearing up for another edition in a few weeks with a good chance of unexceptional weather for the British Isles—just the kind under which we'd expect to see a sea of Austin Allegros, Vauxhall Cavaliers, and hundreds of other vehicles that have improbably survived the past few decades with hardly a scratch. These were the cars your elderly neighbor might have had in the 1980s, and the kind 99% of which had been turned into LG refrigerators long ago.

This uniquely British car show was launched not that long ago, in 2014, but has gathered massive momentum in recent years. Celebrating the ordinary cars of the 1960s through the 1990s, the annual event plays host to hundreds of cars that have become scarce over the years just due to being very utilitarian transports.

A special feature within the event is Concours de l’Ordinaire, open to just 50 cars, judged by a panel of automotive experts. This is where attention to detail and originality will matter, which means having the correct tool set for an MG Metro.

"Festival of the Unexceptional is an event like no other, being the only concours event for cars many don't give a second look," said Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty International. "At Hagerty we applaud this, we respect their level of commitment, and we enjoy seeing hundreds of FOTU-worthy cars amass at Grimsthorpe Castle every year."