Here’s an interesting one. Meet the Zastava Skala, seen here at last year’s Festival of the Unexceptional. The Skala, introduced in 1971, and made in the former Yugoslavia, was based on the Fiat 128, but had a sloping hatchback rear end, rather than the conventional notchback saloon boot/trunk of the Fiat. It was available in either three-door (as here) or five-door forms.
Another 1980s Vauxhall from last year’s Festival of the Unexceptional - the top of the range Senator, a rebadged version of the second-generation Opel Senator. Vauxhall had also previously sold the first generation Senator, but under the model name Royale. The Senator was well regarded but was not replaced.
Today, we’re continuing our slightly random sequence of posts from last year’s Festival of the Unexceptional with this early nineties DB series Mazda 121. It appears to be a Japanese domestic market import (small-format rear registration plate). Note the full-length sunroof.
Today, another thoroughly exceptional car I saw at last year’s Festival of the Unexceptional. A welcome visitor from the Netherlands, this is a Golf Mk2 Country, which features the ‘Syncro’ all-wheel drive system. The car was co-developed with Steyr-Daimler-Puch (also associated with the Mercedes G-Wagen and Fiat Panda 4x4), and features such as the bull bars and raised suspension are standard factory fit, not after-market additions.
Today, we’re back at last year’s Festival of the Unexceptional. This, from behind the old Iron Curtain, is a Soviet-era Gaz-21 ‘Volga’ saloon. More specifically, it is a third series model, a type produced between 1962 and 1970.
This is an interesting one. The Nissan Praire, introduced in 1982, was one of a small number of pioneering people carriers, or MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles). Sliding rear side doors. Captured at last year’s Festival of the Unexceptional.
Today, we’re staying at the 2023 Festival of the Unexceptional, and we’re looking at the bigger sister of yesterday’s W202 C-Class. The W124 E-Class was introduced in 1985 - this is the ‘T’ estate model, which was designated S124. Peak Mercedes - and now very much sought after.
In 1992, Mercedes launched the first-generation W202 C-Class as the successor to yesterday’s W201 190. The W202 was available with a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines and also as an estate. I saw this lovely early C180 Esprit base model with its orange indicator lenses and black bumper/rubbing strips at the Festival of the Unexceptional in 2023. One of my all-rime favourites.
Over the last week or so, we’ve been looking at how from 1997 Mercedes extended its range downwards into more affordable territory with the A-Class and Smart models. The company had previously gone down a size bracket in 1982 with the 190E. Unlike the radical A-Class, the 190E was a scaled down version of the standard Mercedes saloon/sedan formula, and now enjoys an outstanding reputation. Snapped at the Festival of the Unexceptional, 2023.
Today, we’re moving on from Perodua to Malaysia’s other main car maker, Proton. Whereas Perodua is very much within the orbit of Toyota and Daihatsu, Proton was initially aligned with Mitsubishi, from which it borrowed technology and designs. This very rare Proton 1.5 GL Black Knight edition is a well-known Festival of the Unexceptional favourite. It won the Concours de l’Ordinaire at FOTU in 2021 but is seen here at this year’s event.
David Wilkins