Exceptionally unexceptional cars for unexceptional prices

And it’s not just down to this long hangover from Covid. It’s also thanks to the annual Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional (FOTU), which celebrates the saloons, hatchbacks and estates of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. Maestros over McLarens, Fiestas over Ferraris and Primeras over Paganis.

The UK’s most unexceptional cars will converge on Grimsthorpe Castle for this year’s FOTU on Saturday 29 July and we’ve looked under the arches to find 20 affordable cars that have escaped classic scene tax. To meet Hagerty’s criteria, the cars chosen were registered between 1968 and 1998. Exceptional cars are not included, but the results are presented in alphabetical order, with no more than one model per marque. We'll also present (where available) How Many Left? data suggesting how many remain on the UK's roads or on a SORN:

Contrary to what you may have read on the internet, the Austin Allegro was significantly better than its predecessor. Compared with the ageing Austin-Morris 1100/1300, the Allegro was roomier, safer and better equipped, not to mention innovative, with the debut of the firm’s new Hydragas suspension system.

Like other British cars of the 1970s and 1980s, it could have been better, but the Allegro was beset with quality issues, design faults and styling that is best described as ‘lumpen’. Still, it’s nowhere near as bad as its reputation suggests; the series 2 and 3 Allegros put right some of the early wrongs. We’d suggest buying a Vanden Plas, but it wouldn’t be unexceptional enough. How many are left? 267, with another 353 on SORN

With the possible exception of the Xsara, the ZX is arguably the most unexceptional Citroën of the past thirty years. Launched in 1991, the ZX slotted in between the AX and the BX and was designed to take on the likes of the Ford Escort, Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra. It may have lacked Citroën’s usual flair and innovation, but the ZX was perfect for a mainstream audience.

Jeremy Clarkson loved it, pointing to what he said was ‘probably the best chassis you can get in a small car,’ before praising Citroën for ‘one of the best interiors they’ve ever done’. Forget the fancy Aura or sporty Volcane and 16v models, because a Reflex or Avantage would be ideal for FOTU. How many are left? 434, with another 1930 on SORN

In the years before Dacia returned to the UK, there were several manufacturers battling for cheap car supremacy. Daihatsu, Hyundai, Kia, Perodua, Proton and Skoda were just some of the companies targeting motorists on a budget. Quality was, at best, patchy, but finding a cheap car was easier than it was today.

At £7200 in 1997, the Daihatsu Cuore was one of the cheapest cars on sale in the UK. Powered by an 847cc three-cylinder engine, the Cuore could hit 60mph in a leisurely 15.1sec and return an impressive 53.3mpg. Don’t knock the Cuore, because in many ways it was Japan’s answer to the original Mini. Yes, really. How many are left? 266, with another 310 on SORN

Unveiled at the 1993 Frankfurt motor show, the Fiat Punto faced the unenviable challenge of replacing the hugely successful Uno and rivalling the excellent Renault Clio. The Giugiaro-designed Punto got off to a solid start, beating the Volkswagen Polo by just eight points to secure the 1995 European Car of the Year award.

Highlights included chic styling, especially in three-door guise, good build quality, class-leading interior space and a wide range of petrol and diesel engines. The Punto also spawned warm and hot hatchback variants, and even a Bertone-built cabriolet. These are far too exciting for FOTU, so find a 55 S for some unpainted bumpers magnificence. How many are left? Loads and loads, but this includes Grande Punto which was on sale until recently.

The Ford Escort is prime FOTU fodder, especially if you opt for a Mk5 or Mk6 model. Still in plentiful supply, an Escort of the 1990s will show you how far Ford’s family hatchback had fallen before it was replaced by the revolutionary Focus, and you needn’t pay more than a grand for the privilege. Ignore the eye-watering prices listed by some enterprising classic car dealers.

The Escort continued to be sold alongside the Focus until 2000, when production at the Halewood plant came to an end. By then, sales were limited to the Flight and Finesse models, which, thanks to production to Jaguar standards, edged the Escort close to mainstream acceptability. How many are left? 14,685 or so - impressive, except when you know there were over 1.9 million of them out there 20 years ago...

It’s surprisingly difficult to find an unexceptional Accord for a good price. Rust has killed off many examples of the first four generations, and those that are left tend to come with added ‘scene tax’. The sixth-generation Accord is too new, so you’re left with the Swindon-built Mk5 Accord.

As a sister car to the Rover 600, the Accord should give you a backdoor pass to engage in conversation with British car buffs, although it’s worth noting that the coupé and estate (Aeroback) variants were built in America. There are plenty of survivors, many of which are in excellent condition and backed by a comprehensive service history.

You’ve heard all the gags – Carisma: the car with none, etc – but we’ll park them and look at the positives. Launched in Amsterdam in January 1995, the Carisma was the result of a joint venture formed in 1991 by Mitsubishi, Volvo and the Dutch government. Each partner owned a third of the NedCar factory in Born, where the Carisma was built alongside the Volvo S40.

It's not in the least bit exciting, but the Carisma is an example of a mid-’90s Japanese car, designed for and built in Europe. UK sales began in January 1996, so this Mitsubishi is well placed to make a charismatic entrance at next year’s FOTU. How many are left? 1099, with another 1278 on SORN

Five decades on from its launch, the Morris Marina is still held aloft as an example of everything that went wrong for the British car industry. Developed in record time to take on the Ford Cortina – a fight it would lose – the Marina was, according to Autocar, “… a kind of grown-up Morris Minor replacement, bigger and with the same kind of conventional layout.”

Hardly an assessment overflowing with enthusiasm, but the Marina was good enough to convince 703,686 UK buyers - and 431,657 more overseas - to part with their cash, with production continuing until 1980, when it was replaced by the horrendously wrong-headed Morris Ital. How many are left? 394, with another 449 on SORN

What could be more unexceptional than a Nissan Bluebird? In its day, the Bluebird was a fleet car favourite and a minicab marvel, offering total dependability to a nation fed up with  unreliable British and other European cars. Mainstream mediocrity as a positive, rather than a stick to beat it with.

Indeed, a 1989 Bluebird 1.6 Premium was one of the stars of last year’s Concours de l’Ordinaire at the Festival of the Unexceptional, with James Green’s immaculate example narrowly beaten by a Proton 1.5 GL Black Knight. As for the Bluebird, it was just very good at ticking all the right boxes. As a car built in Sunderland, it also shares something in common with the Nissan Qashqai. How many are left? 213, with another 874 on SORN

In many ways, the Peugeot 405 is too special to be deemed unexceptional. Timeless Pininfarina styling, a European Car of the Year gong in 1988, class-leading ride and handling and a memorable TV ad campaign are just some of the highlights. A car good enough to take your breath away.

Built alongside the 309 at Peugeot’s Ryton plant in Coventry, the 405 shared a platform – but not the hydropneumatic suspension – with the Citroën BX. Following a first drive in 1988, we said the ride quality “sets new class standards”, before describing it as “entertaining”. You’ll look good at FOTU and enjoy the drive home. How many are left? 358, with another 2912 on SORN

Launched in the UK in 1989, the Renault 19 was a replacement for both the 9 and 11. It was, at the time, one of the best family hatchbacks in its class, being enjoyable to drive, practical and, thanks to styling by Giorgetto Giugiaro, rather handsome. Its time at the top of the class was rather short, with the 19 overtaken by new arrivals like the Citroën ZX and Vauxhall Astra Mk3.

Some 131,000 were sold in the UK, but when was the last time you saw one? Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are the best hunting grounds for finding a 19, with £500 enough to secure a good example of this capable and competent hatchback. Better still, find a four-door Chamade for maximum unexceptional points. How many are left? 115, with 868 on SORN

We were reluctant to include a Saab on a list of unexceptional cars, but the 90 is a good fit for FOTU. Launched in 1984, the Finnish-built 90 was essentially a 99 from the B-pillar forward, with the rear of a 900 saloon. A compromised Saab or the best of both worlds? We’re opting for the latter.

It slotted in as Saab’s cheapest model, undercutting the lowest-priced 900 by around £550. Standard equipment was generous and included a rather brilliant headlight wash-wipe system. Today, there are reportedly 11 on the road and a further 27 listed as SORN. Buy one in time for the 90’s 40th anniversary in 2024. How many are left? 11, with another 28 on SORN

As the first new model to be developed under the umbrella of the Volkswagen Group, the Felicia represents a significant chapter in the history of Skoda. Launched in 1994, the Felicia was a comprehensive reworking of the Bertone-designed Favorit, and was longer, wider and more practical than its predecessor.

Along with the standard five-door hatchback, the Felicia spawned estate, pick-up and van variants, not to mention the extraordinary, and not at all unexceptional, Felicia Fun. In total, some 1.4 million vehicles were produced until the Felicia made way for the Fabia. The rest is history. How many are left? 1182, with 2787 on SORN

The Suzuki Vitara was there at the beginning of the lifestyle SUV boom. Before the arrival of cars like the Vitara, Daihatsu Sportrak and Toyota RAV4, off-road vehicles were big, expensive and uneconomical. These new ‘soft-roaders’ were lighter, cheaper to run, nicer to drive on the road and more fashionable.

Launched here in 1989, the Vitara offered what was then a unique blend of the off-road capabilities of the Suzuki SJ and the convenience of a family hatch. Finding a Vitara that doesn’t require welding or hasn’t been modified within an inch of its life will be the biggest challenge.

Launched in 1981, the Samba represented the end for the Talbot brand as a car company, although the name lived on in the form of the Express van. Built in France, the Samba shared a lot in common with the Peugeot 104 and Citroën LN/LNA, with power sourced from a range of PSA four-cylinder engines.

Interestingly, the Cabriolet is the most common variant of the Samba in the UK, although all versions are living on borrowed time. We’d love a Samba Rallye, but that’s far from unexceptional. How many are left? 15, with another 141 on SORN

Fancy something unexceptional? Take your pick from the twelve generations of Toyota Corolla launched since 1966. That’s a little unfair, because there have been some exciting variants along the way, but the Corolla represents the pinnacle of unexceptional motoring. It’s what Toyota does best: create gloriously fit for purpose vehicles.

For FOTU purposes, may we recommend the seventh-generation (E100) Corolla or maybe an early example of the cosmetically challenged E110. Snobbery means they’re ridiculously cheap, while the Corolla’s reputation for reliability should mean that you make the trip to Lincolnshire without fuss or bother.

If the Acclaim doesn’t look like a Triumph, it’s because it isn’t. Look at the contemporary Ballade and you’ll discover that it was little more than a reworked Honda, built as part of the deal signed by British Leyland and Honda. Production took place at BL’s Cowley plant in Oxford, using 80 per cent British-sourced parts.

A front-wheel-drive, Anglo-Japanese car may have upset the Triumph purists, but the Acclaim was a well-engineered and well equipped car. Buyers loved its reliability, while dealers enjoyed receiving fewer complaints. There are a surprising number of survivors, so it won’t be difficult to find one. How many are left? 96 with another 289 on SORN

We’re not saying that the Vauxhall Astra Mk3 is an endangered species, but it’s getting harder to find a good one. Launched in 1991, the Mk3 was an evolution of the Astra Mk2, which led to some people criticising Vauxhall’s decision to play it safe. Vauxhall styling chief Mark Adams is quoted as saying: ‘If I am honest, it didn’t quite have the iconic character of the Mk2’.

Still, ‘iconic’ and ‘character’ aren’t words you’d associate with a proper FOTU car. To claim the maximum unexceptional points, choose a Merit or L – an Astra CD would be too lavish. Alternatively, take a look at the four-door saloon.

Finding an unexceptional and affordable Passat might be harder than you think, not least because the first three generations have secured classic status. The B5 Passat is a little new, which leaves you with the B4, essentially an evolution of the more desirable B3. Desirability increases the price of the B3, so stick with the B4.

Although marketed as a new model, the B4 Passat featured an exterior overhaul and a light update for the interior. Space, comfort and excellent build quality are the highlights of this underrated saloon and estate.

As the four-cylinder alternative to the six-cylinder 760, the Volvo 740 is perfect for FOTU, especially if you choose the saloon over the estate. Either way, a well maintained Volvo 740 should provide years of loyal service, with a general sense that it will survive the apocalypse. The saloons are cheaper than the estates, so don’t pay over the odds. How many are left? 802 with another 1835 (encouragingly) on SORN.

Fancy taking part? Visit the event's website here