1989 Proton 1.6 GL Black Knight is crowned winner of Hagerty's 2021 Festival
A 1989 Proton 1.6 GL Black Knight is crowned winner of Hagerty's 2021 Festival of the Unexceptional, with a Peugeot 106 XN as runner up.
Unexceptional winners
The car concours unlike any other and the Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional enjoyed sell-out success at Grimsthorpe Castle on Saturday 31st July as thousands of mundane motors were displayed with pride. Of these, 50 carefully selected unexceptional concours cars were parked perfectly on manicured lawns, the owners and vehicles alike having to face a committee of six judges and their demanding inspection techniques and tough questioning. Hagerty’s esteemed judges then took their Thermos flasks to a tartan rug and debated the winners over countless cups of tea and many custard creams. Eventually an agreement was reached, and the 2021 winners were announced:
- BEST IN SHOW: Jon Coupland – 1989 Proton 1.5 GL Black Knight
- RUNNER UP: Danny Wilson – 1991 Peugeot 106 XN
- FEAST OF THE UNEXCEPTIONAL/BEST PICNIC: Matthew Long – who ate alongside an immaculate 1986 Volvo 340DL with a spread of period correct fare
- BEST DRESSED: Mark Pallatt – 1979 Ford Escort
The winning Proton, owned by Jon Coupland (30) from Boston in Lincolnshire, is one of just 201 examples made, this being the only remaining one. The previous owner put the Black Knight into a garage in 1993 with just 3600 miles recorded, and it didn’t surface again until 2017. Now showing just over 13,000 miles, it is the star of Coupland’s three-Proton collection.
The runner-up prize winning Peugeot 106 was bought for just £500 via Facebook Marketplace. Owner Danny Wilson (27) from Driffield in East Yorkshire brought the peppermint-coloured Peugeot back to life himself, and the judges noted that it was fitted with a carburetter and choke found only on the very earliest examples, marking it out as a true survivor of the scrap heap. Wilson had wanted to be a part of FOTU for many years, and was delighted to have been chosen to display his car at the concours for everyday old cars.
Special mentions went to James Green for his 1989 Nissan Bluebird, Charles Whilems and his 1986 Volkswagen Polo C Formel E, Chris Howells and his 1971 Triumph Toledo and Simon Hucknall for his 1977 Fiat 128. All of these cars impressed the individual judges and warranted their place in the 2021 Unexceptional Hall of Fame. Speaking at the event, James Mills, Hagerty’s UK Editor, said: 'What stood out for me this year was the number of fantastic cars fielded by younger entrants. It’s great to see the next generation of enthusiasts showing a real passion for everyday, ordinary and unexceptional classics and demonstrates the growing love for this accessible scene. Our Festival started out as a small, cult event, but today we saw thousands of visitors make the trip to admire the unsung heroes of the classic car world.'