Meeting of mundane motors: 1982 Toyota Hilux crowned best car at Festival of the Unexceptional

When most petrolheads hear the words 'car show', they think of gatherings of ultra-rare classics worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and displays of exotic supercars. It is designed to celebrate long-forgotten everyday family cars many of us would have owned during the 1970s to 1990s, including cars like 1982 Vauxhall Cavaliers Some 2,000 once-popular vehicles from the 'unexceptional era' descended on the grounds of Grimsthrope Castle in Lincolnshire at the weekend The quirky event has become one of the big dates on the summer motoring calendar, with this year's show another sell-out with 4,000 people in attendance. A workhorse on a strawberry-picking farm from new, it has just 20,000 miles on the clock and is entirely original and in immaculate condition From left to right: Amy Jaine's 1998 Renault Clio which was awarded runner-up in the best in show; Luca Alpert's German-registered Nissan Primera won the Retro Repmobile trophy; Mitch Lewis' crowned Toyota Hilus; Colin Corke's Applejack Austin Metro was winner of the Chairman's Award The winner’s trophy for the 2024 event was awarded to Mitch Lewis and his pristine Toyota Hilux pick-up. They famously feature a lift-up canopy and side screens instead of conventional doors The range of models in attendance is a selection of the most boring vehicles from a forgotten era, including many Vauxhall Novas and Ford Fiesta There aren't many shows where a Fiat Multipla might attract adoring looks, but one is the Festival of the Unexceptional Taking the last available prize - the Chairman's Award - was Colin Corke for his Applejack Metro - the eighth time he's entered the concours at the festival and the first time he's taken home a crown. Some 4,000 people attended with 2,000 vehicles Hagerty, the classic car insurer that organises the event, says it is an important part of 'securing the future of classic cars' and offers the chance for younger enthusiasts to get involved with the cars they own - some of them older than they are Thousands of other cars from the generation lined the castle grounds for as far as the eye could see, with many owners having travelled hundreds of miles to be there.