Northamptonshire: 30th March 2023
If you marvel at Montegos, smile at Samaras or dream of a Dolomite then the Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional is the show for you. Similarly, if you continuously polish your Proton, fettle your Fiesta, or pamper your Panda, you may like to enter your vehicle into the only Concours dedicated to celebrating the mundane motors that were once commonplace.
The Concours de l’Ordinaire – quite literally, a show dedicated to sharing some of the greatest everyday classic cars on our roads – is confirmed for Saturday 29th July taking place, once again, on the beautiful lawns of Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire.
Originally staged by Hagerty in 2014, the Festival of the Unexceptional has earned its place in the automotive calendar as an attainable concours event offering a mix of rare cars and a prestigious location in an informal and friendly approach. Showcasing much maligned and long-forgotten ‘ordinary’ classic cars and commercial vehicles of the late 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s, Festival of the Unexceptional remains the only must-visit car show that celebrates the everyday cars we all know and love.
As ever, the central attraction of Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional is its Concours de l’Ordinaire. Set in the main courtyard at Grimsthorpe Castle, the Concours de l’Ordinaire sees 50 rare and prized everyday classic cars compete to be crowned the best of the best, judged by a highly experienced panel of motoring experts.
Showgoers can also enjoy 100s of FOTU-era classics on display in the parking area directly in front of the Concours lawn as well as a great selection of food and drink options and a curated selection of relevant and interesting trade stands. If that wasn’t enough, the Hagerty Live Stage, hosted by classic car journalist Charlotte Vowden, will present live interviews, music and much more.
Last year saw special surprise guest Richard Hammond attend the Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional, together with Oliver, his prized 1963 Opel Kaddett, and the crew from The Smallest Cog workshop. Further surprises are planned for the 2023 event…
Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty International, said “Festival of the Unexceptional is a must-see event for so many enthusiasts, not just from the UK but all over the world. Hagerty may look after some of the finest car collections in the world and has just released a new Private Clients product for the high-end market, events like FOTU shows that Hagerty caters for all types of classic vehicle enthusiast, regardless of what they drive. I can’t wait to see all the wonderfully preserved cars on the lawns of Grimsthorpe later this year”
Tickets for the 2023 Festival of the Unexceptional are priced at just £25 per car, not per person, so bring friends and family and enjoy a great day out at a great price.
There’s still time to apply for entry into the Concours de l’Ordinaire at the 2023 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional. Interested owners can apply via this link, providing a description of, and the story behind, their car, as well as a selection of photos. The 50 chosen finalists will receive complimentary entry to this year’s Festival, with unsuccessful applicants guaranteed entry to the festival and provided with priority parking in the car display area.
