The Salon Privé
from Wednesday 30 August to Saturday 2 September
Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva sees 50 classics competing for the Best in Show award – while the £30 million Salon Privé Yellow Collection is an eye-catching draw.
1951 Ferrari 212 Export by Vignale is 2nd overall and 1951 Bugatti Type 101 Cabriolet by Gangloff is 3rd.
Unique 1952 Hansgen Jaguar wins Chairman’s Award and 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom Sedanca de Ville by Windovers wins Duke of Marlborough Award
1937 BUGATTI OWNED BY JCB’S LORD BAMFORD WINS BEST OF SHOW AT SALON PRIVÉ CONCOURS PRESENTED BY AVIVA
1937 Bugatti Type 57S by Corsica owned by JCB founder Lord Bamford. Images Harry Elliott.
David Bagley, Salon Privé co-founder and director - ‘We are truly delighted with this year’s Best of Show Bugatti Type 57S by Corsica. This Bugatti, thought to be one of the 3 Le-Mans winning Tanks, is such a hugely significant car, and hadn’t been driven for over half a century, before being restored to its former glory by Clark & Carter Restorations. Raced at Montlhéry, reaching top speeds of 111mph, this Bugatti is all-original and one of the world’s greatest pre-war sports racers. We now look forward to its entry into the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award.”
Honorary Award winners range from a 1900 Bardon Type A to a 1968 Porsche 911 T/R. £30 million Salon Privé Yellow Collection an eye-catching centrepiece draw, to complement the Concours.
JCB founder and chairman Lord Anthony Bamford’s 1937 Bugatti Type 57S by Corsica has been awarded Best of Show at this year’s Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva. The expert ICJAG Judges were super-impressed – Salon Privé is overseen by International Chief Judging Advisory Group judges and the only ICJAG+ designated show in Europe – as were the thousands of Blenheim guests who saw the Bugatti triumph after two intensive days of judging.
The 1937 Bugatti Type 57S is one of just 42 produced, with open grand tourer four-seater bodywork custom-built by Corsica Coachworks. With a 3.3-litre engine, it was the fastest road car of its day. Remarkably, this long-lost car was the world’s only remaining ‘hidden’ pre-war Bugatti Type 57S when it was discovered in 2020, after being owned and latterly restored by Bugatti enthusiast Bill Turnbull since 1969.
It is fitting Lord Bamford bought the car; Turnbull was an engineer by trade – at JCB. The talented chief engineer, who helped develop JCB’s first mini excavators, retired in 1995, before turning his hand to reviving his prized Bugatti, a task that Lord Bamford completed. Completing the turnaround of the storied Bugatti, nicknamed ‘Dulcie’ due to its UK registration ‘DUL 351’, is winning Best of Show at the 2023 Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva.
1951 Ferrari 212 Export by Vignale [parade]
Runner-up in the Best of Show was a 1951 Ferrari 212 Export by Vignale, originally owned by Prince Vittorio Massimo. The Prince’s objective was to buy a race car for the road with an understated and elegant GT body, and car 0080E certainly fits the bill. It was even displayed at the 1951 Torino Auto Show, on Carrozzeria Vignale’s stand, as the best of the seven Ferrari 212 coupes made by the coachbuilder. Exported to the US in 1953, the car was lost for many years, before its current owner acquired and restored it.
Bugatti, a 1951 Type 101 Cabriolet by Gangloff (third prize)
Another Bugatti, a 1951 Type 101 Cabriolet by Gangloff took the third prize. It is one of just nine models built as part of a plan by Bugatti founder Ettore’s son Roland to stage a post-war revival for the brand. It was based on the pre-war Type 57 chassis and powertrain, and this ageing technology was behind the failure of the revival. Uniquely, this car is the only 101 to receive the T57C’s supercharged engine, producing around 200bhp. It’s had several noted owners over the years, and is currently owned by Peter and Merle Mullin for the Mullin Automobile Museum in California.
This year’s Salon Privé Duke of Marlborough Award was, appropriately, awarded to a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom Sedanca de Ville by Windovers – a car owned by John Albert Edward William Spencer-Churchill, the 10th Duke of Marlborough and cousin of Winston Churchill. Both John Albert and Winston Churchill were born and lived in Blenheim Palace, and this very car served both families over a long period between 1929 and 1950. It was a special moment when the 12th Duke of Marlborough, James Spencer-Churchill, made it his pick of Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace.
Winning the Spirit Award – The Margaret Bagley Trophy was a veteran 1900 Bardon Type A Tonneau. It has a unique single-cylinder engine, displacing 1,216cc, containing two opposing pistons, each connected to its own crankshaft and flywheel. While the production of Bardon cars ceased in 1903, chassis number five lived on. Acquired from the collection of Henri Malartre at the Musée de Rochetaillée-sur-Saone, Lyon, in 1976, this rare Bardon Tonneau received a full restoration and was finally acquired by current custodians David and Marion Martyr. In 2016 it won the Royal Automobile Club Concours d’Equipe prize at the Regent Street Motor Show and took part in its maiden London to Brighton Veteran Car Run – the world's longest-running motoring event.
The 2023 Salon Privé Concours Chairman’s Award winner was yet another show-stopper – a thoroughly unique 1952 Hansgen Jaguar. Walt Hansgen was a multi-discipline American racing driver, triumphing in multiple categories and even making it to Formula 1 where, despite only competing in two races, still scored two championship points. His career was launched when he acquired a 1951 Jaguar XK120, but he soon found it wasn’t light enough to run at the front.
Enter the engineer-driver’s ingenuity: after being unable to purchase a Jaguar C-type, he instead turned his XK120 into a lightweight special. He replaced its basic latter frame chassis with an elaborate tubular structure, cutting the weight from over 1,200kg to around 950kg. It was a sensation, with Hansgen now able to run at the front. He took several victories in 1953, most famously at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix, the race that really put Walt on the map. After finally getting a C-type, the Hansgen Special was sold, passing through several owners before being acquired by Bob Millstein – who still races the car in vintage events!
Salon Privé chairman Andrew Bagley said: “This year’s Concours cars were truly exceptional and as ever a hard-fought contest to declare the winner, but I’m delighted to see Lord Bamford’s world-class Bugatti take the 2023 Best of Show Trophy. There were some terrifically rare and prized cars celebrated in the Honorary Awards too, once again showing that Salon Privé really does attract the very finest automotive jewels, year after year.”
Full list of this year’s winners:
2023 Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva Winners
Best in Show
1937 Bugatti Type 57S by Corsica
Best in Show Runner-up
1951 Ferrari 212 Export by Vignale
Best in Show 3rd Place
1951 Bugatti Type 101 Cabriolet by Gangloff
Duke of Marlborough Award
1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom Sedanca de Ville by Windovers
Chairman’s Award
1952 Hansgen Jaguar
Class A: Veteran & Pioneers
1907 Renault Type AI 35/45HP (Vanderbilt Racer)
Class B1: Pre-war British (Open)
1937 Alvis Speed 25 SC by Offord & Sons
Class B2: Pre-war International (Open)
1937 Bugatti Type 57S by Corsica
Class C: Pre-war Elegance (Closed)
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Roll-back Coupé
Class D: Post War (Open)
1951 Bugatti Type 101 Cabriolet by Gangloff
Class E: Post-war (Closed)
1952 Lancia Aurelia 2000 BS2 Coupé by Vignale
Class F: Sports Racers
1965 Ferrari 250 LM by Pininfarina
Class G: Ferrari Classiche
1951 Ferrari 212 Export by Vignale
Class H: Preservation
1961 Jaguar E-type Roadster
Class I: Lamborghini 60th Anniversary
1992 Lamborghini Diablo
Class J: Porsche 356 - Where it all began
1955 Porsche 356 Pre A Coupé
Class K: Supercar Icons (Pre 2000)
1992 Jaguar XJ220
Class L: Supercar Icons (Post 2000)
2005 Ferrari Enzo
Class M: Classic Formula 1
1989 Ferrari 640
Spirit Award – The Margaret Bagley Trophy
1900 Bardon Type A Tonneau
Most Exceptional Coachwork
1987 Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV
Most Opulent
1923 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost Cabriolet by Hooper
Coup de Coeur – The Matt Pearce Trophy
1934 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio by Gangloff
Best Interior
1950 Ferrari 195 S Inter Coupé by Touring
Most Elegant
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso by Scaglietti
Most Iconic – The George Barry Gregory Trophy
1968 Porsche 911 T/R
JIA Range Rover
Joining the DB12 Volante as a headliner for the Aston Martin display is the thrilling new V12 Vantage, the fastest and fiercest version ever made. The DBS770 Ultimate is the most powerful production Aston Martin of all time, while a guaranteed head-turner will be the world-famous Aston Martin Vantage Official FIA Safety Car of Formula 1. Aston Martin Works is also running test drives of the acclaimed new DBX707 SUV.
Later in the week, Aston Martin’s Salon Privé guests will be treated to 110th anniversary display featuring cars from the firm’s history, dating all the way back to the 1920s. Highlights include the 1920s Bamford & Martin, 1936 ‘Red Dragon’ Speed, 1958 DB4, a DB5 Goldfinger, 1960s DB6 Volante, 1980s V8 Vantage, 1996 V600, 2004 DB7 Zagato and the iconic 2014 One-77.
Salon Privé rolled out the red carpet for Electrogenic’s latest bespoke electric creation, a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II. Making its world premier in the famous grounds of Blenheim Palace, it is the most complex conversion ever undertaken by the Kidlington, Oxfordshire firm. With 93kWh of batteries concealed beneath a beautiful hand-riveted aluminium housing, it has a real-world range of around 150 miles. Commissioned by a private collector, Electrogenic director Steve Drummond said Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace was “the perfect place to reveal such a stately piece of British motoring history – now fully updated and future-proofed for the next hundred years of clean, silent electric motoring”.
E1 1952 Lancia Aurelia 2000 B52 Coupé by Vignale [parade]
There are yet more world debuts at Salon Privé too. The Clive Sutton Shelby Cobra CSX10000 is the first ready-to-go UK turn-key Shelby Cobra in almost 60 years, timed perfectly to mark 100 years since Carroll Shelby’s birth. The UK is the very first global market to receive the car, which boasts the latest 5.0-litre Ford V8 ‘Cobra’ Mustang engine producing 460hp – and an optional supercharged version increases power to 700hp. Clive Sutton, founder and CEO, said it was an immense honour to lead the global launch of the new Shelby Cobra CSX10000, which will be showcased at Blenheim Palace throughout the event.
Ferrari 640 ´89
Making its European debut is the new Little Car Company Bentley Blower Jnr. An 85% scale recreation of Bentley’s 1929 Team Car No. 2, the exciting new model is fully electric, fully road-legal, has a 61-mile range and a 45mph top speed. The First Edition version is on sale for £108,000 – a snip, compared to the £25m value of the original.
Innovative new Italian brand Totem Automobili is being presented to Salon Privé guests for the first time in the UK at Blenheim Palace. Inspired by the classic Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA, the new Totem GT is available in two guises: the Super has a world-class twin-turbo V6 with at least 600hp, while the Electric ‘modernises and renews without abandoning the classic soul’.
B6 1934 Packard Passenger Tourer
Jensen International Automotive (JIA), famed for re-engineering the iconic Interceptor as well as the classic Range Rover, presented a surprise new creation – a 1992 Range Rover, fully re-engineered as a pure EV with a 250-mile range. Managing director Durran Heslop said it had been completed just weeks before, and “is a bespoke creation, using custom parts developed specifically for this vehicle”.
Theon Design returned with CEO and founder Adam Hawley presenting two brand new cars – its first for UK customers, The GBR1 has a 3.8-litre engine and Slate Grey paintwork, the exact same colour as Steve McQueen’s Porsche 911 in the film Le Mans. Meanwhile, the GBR2, in beautiful Oak Green, has a 4.0-litre engine and a better power-to-weight ratio than a new Porsche 992 GT3.
To mark the opening of the event, Salon Privé special guests, A-list media and VIPs were given an exclusive pre-opening tour of the event by show co-founder and director David Bagley, where the return of Lotus to Salon Privé was celebrated. The reborn British brand is showcasing an exciting line-up of the new Eletre electric Hyper-SUV, the Emira sports car’s engaging new I4 variant – and a classic 1976 Lotus Esprit S1 from the firm’s own collection.
Salon Privé continues at Blenheim Palace for the rest of the week, with must-see models including the Alpine A110 San Remo, Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure, Ferrari Purosangue and Roma Spider, Lamborghini Revuelto and Sterrato, MST Cars’ new 6R4 and much, much more. Lamborghini will be continuing its 60th anniversary celebrations on Saturday with a dedicated club event including 60-plus classic V12 models – and a further gathering of V8 and V10 Lamborghinis.
At the indulgent Salon Privé luxury retail village, more than 30 brands will offer appeal beyond automotive, with boats, helicopters, motorbikes, fashion, accessories, sunglasses, jewellery, antiques, art, sculpture and much more. Naturally, all will be complemented by the world-famous Salon Privé hospitality, including fabulous cuisine and Pommery Champagne.
Judging is also under way for the world-class Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva. 50 cars are competing for the envied Best in Show award, with categories including Pioneering Motor Cars, Pre-War Sports, Sports Racers and Supercar Icons. There are three one-off concours classes to mark landmark anniversaries, too. The Porsche 356 – Where it all Began celebrates 75 years of Porsche, and there are special anniversary classes for Lamborghini and McLaren.
The Yellow Collection is yet another highlight, featuring a glittering array of delicious automotive icons led by a stunning 1965 Ferrari 250 LM that famously led the Le Mans 24 Hours for 23 hours – before suffering a puncture, leaving its sister car to take the win (fortunately, it still finished second) Like all other cars in the line-up, it is resplendent in bright yellow – with the total collection valued at an incredible £30 million.
With the famous Ladies’ Day by Boodles on Friday and Supercar Saturday presenting the Lockton Club Trophy, there is once again something for everyone at Salon Privé Blenheim Palace – and while Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are sold out, limited advance tickets remain available for Saturday. “With the sun shining and guests arriving in force, we’re off to a fantastic start and I can’t wait to see what else Salon Privé 2023 has in store – I’m sure it’s going to be another classic year,” said David Bagley.
Salon Privé Week 2023
30 August – Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva
31 August – Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva
1 September – Salon Privé Ladies’ Day presented by Boodles
2 September – Salon Privé Supercar Saturday and Club Trophy presented by Lockton
Tickets can be purchased via the website: www.salonpriveconcours.com
Charity Partner
Salon Privé is once again partnering with Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity as its charity partner. The organisation provides emotional and practical support to families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness, and thanks to the generation donations of guests and Concours entrants, the event has so far raised in excess of £1.1 million for these great causes.
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