Third Gen Toyota Hilux Wins 2024 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional

The 10th Anniversary Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional was a huge success at Grimsthorpe Castle, drawing a record crowd. Over 2 000 cars and more than 4 000 guests enjoyed the Lincolnshire sunshine on Saturday, making it the biggest event yet and a period correct Hilux has claimed the event honours.

www.matthowell.co.uk

Looking for a new or used Toyota? Find it here with CARmag! 

Hagerty started the Festival of the Unexceptional in 2014 to celebrate long-forgotten everyday family cars from 1968-1989, now known as the ‘Unexceptional Era.’ Each year, the event has grown in size and reputation, attracting car enthusiasts from around the world.

This year’s 10th-anniversary event was the biggest and best yet, with thousands of FOTU cars displayed on the front lawns of Grimsthorpe Castle. Fifty standout cars competed in the Concours, showcasing the finest examples of everyday cars. The live stage featured two rounds of a Smith and Sniff gameshow and a live podcast recording, drawing hundreds of spectators. Special guest cars included the last Austin Montego ever made, provided by the British Motor Museum. Event sponsor Sustain Fuels answered questions about using synthetic fuel in modern classics. The castle grounds were filled with FOTU-era cars, from a Vauxhall Belmont to a base-spec W140 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and everything in between. Many owners travelled hundreds of miles to attend.

Hagerty

The main Concours event featured 50 cars representing the finest mundane cars globally. Lead Judge and Practical Classics Editor Danny Hopkins praised the 2024 Concours selection as the best in the event’s history. Judges highly commended several entries, including Lewis Dickson’s Citroen Visa, Christopher Lloyd’s rare Daewoo Lanos, and Damian Brannigan’s 1993 Fiat Panda. Colin Corke received the Chairman Award for his Applejack Metro, showing persistence pays off at FOTU after entering cars for the past eight years without winning.

Hagerty

The Retro Repmobile Award went to Luca Alpert and his daily-driven Nissan Primera. At 21, Luca drove from Hanover to participate, showcasing his passion for the car and the event. Second place went to Amy Jaine and her 1998 Renault Clio, originally owned by her grandmother. Amy rescued the Clio from being scrapped, now using it to take her grandmother on outings, continuing the car’s legacy.

Related: Vintage Splendor: Peter Palm’s Classic Car Show Adventure

The highlight of the event was Mitch Lewis and his pristine 1982 Toyota Hilux, which won the 2024 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional trophy. The Hilux, used on a fruit farm since it was new, remains completely original and immaculate. To prepare for the event, Mitch simply cleaned the car well and drove it to the festival. His dedication and the vehicle’s excellent condition earned him the top honour.

Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty International, expressed his gratitude, saying, “Celebrating 10 years of FOTU is a milestone, and we did it in style. Thanks to the thousands of enthusiasts who joined us and the special guests who brought the main stage to life. The Festival of the Unexceptional is crucial for the future of classic cars, with many young enthusiasts showcasing their FOTU-era cars. Hagerty is committed to supporting UK car culture and will continue to grow the Festival of the Unexceptional and RADwood in the years to come.”

The 2024 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional was a testament to the enduring appeal of these often-overlooked cars, with the Toyota Hilux standing out as a true champion among them.

Browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag!

The post Third Gen Toyota Hilux Wins 2024 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional appeared first on CAR Magazine.


The Car Guide

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Topical tips on buying used – Chapter 1

Image
Buying a used car can be harrowing, whether privately or from a dealer. Here are some tips, as well as some things to watch out for. Beware of low mileages, especially on smaller or cheaper cars. It is always possible that the odometer has been turned back. Some things to bear in mind are:- diesels are often bought because they the driver needs to undertake long trips without consuming vast amounts of fuel. This could be a sales rep, or someone travelling large distances to work, lots of lengthy trip for family holidays, etc. So, usually higher mileages than normal. An expensive or luxury car may not see much time on the road, but very seldom a “workhorse”. This makes the executive cars likely to have a lot more life left than the overworked and abused hatchback. These also spend most of their life in a home garage or undercover parking lot at work. Related: Someone paid more for a mint BMW 325iS Evo 2 than a used M4 A vehicle without any service history is a serious disadvantage
Read more

Top 10 Best-Selling Automotive Brands Locally – April 2024

Image
Following eight consecutive months of sales decline, the milestone of celebrating a century of vehicle production locally saw a welcomed increase in the motor industry for April 2024. Have a look at the data below, which sees Toyota drop in sales but retain the top spot, with Suzuki moving into second and Nissan dropping to the bottom of the list without the NP200 rolling off of the production line. Image: Toyota Looking for your next new or used Porsche? Find it here with CARmag! South Africa is marking 2024 as a significant year for its automotive industry, celebrating 100 years of car manufacturing. Mikel Mabasa, CEO of naamsa , the country’s automotive business council, commented, “As the sun rises on a century of automotive innovation, South Africa proudly commemorates a century of automobile manufacturing excellence. This milestone reflects a journey of resilience, ingenuity, and passion that has shaped the nation’s automotive legacy.” Details on how the industry will commem
Read more

Could this teased Lancia sports car be a reborn Stratos?

Image
Lancia recently teased a coupe-looking model, waiting to be unveiled in their Multiverse. Could this then, signify the return of a historic moniker like the Stratos to the struggling automaker? Image: Lancia #MakeLanciaGreatAgain – a social media phrase that has been making the rounds for the better part of a decade. World Rally Championship titles, Formula 1 single-seat winners and some other gems in between. The Italian automaker litters dates in history and motorsport, with some truly revolutionary ideas and models that aided their bid to become one of the most successful motorsport manufacturers of all time. But that is all in the past. Lancia now contends sole markets with a platform-shared model but there have been ambitious plans under Stellantis ownership to kick-start the automaker and make them great again… words that delight so many enthusiasts and aficionados. Related: Automobili Amos debut Martini Racing Livery Lancia Delta and Safarista What better way to do this th
Read more