We recently visited Salon Privé in Blenheim with wheels-and-things. This event is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious and luxurious car events in the United Kingdom.
Exclusivity at its finest
We would be delighted to give you a tour of the grounds of Salon Privé Blenheim so that you can quickly order your tickets to come and see for yourself next year.
The press tour was given by co-founder David Bagley. During this short tour, he highlighted the scoops and let the exhibitors talk about the vehicles they had brought with them.
The sometimes rather changeable weather in England had clearly been taken into account. A total of more than 4,400 square meters was covered, so you could easily find shelter somewhere in case of rain.
By the way, these are not just any tents. The various pavilions are constructed from a steel structure with glass panels.
McLaren W1
Above, we see the McLaren W1, the successor to the fabulous F1 & P1. This hybrid hypercar features the four-liter MHP-8 engine, which alone is good for 928 hp. The radial flux electric motor (which reaches up to 24,000 rpm) is integrated into the robotized eight-speed gearbox. This adds another 347 hp. Thanks to the 1.4 kWh battery, the car can also drive two kilometers emission-free. Reversing is always done electrically, which saved a considerable amount of weight in the gearbox because there was no need for a conventional reverse gear.
Corvette
Corvette unveiled their futuristic prototype. This first electric Corvette was designed in Birmingham. The split window at the front is a nod to the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray. This prototype is a style exercise by Corvette to see what is technically possible for them. Although it is certainly also a way to gauge interest in an electric Corvette among their audience. We have our reservations about it.
Bentley
Above we see the Bentley Speed Six, widely recognized as Bentley’s most successful racing car to date. This car therefore occupies a prominent position as one of the most important Bentleys in history. Bentley presents the Speed Six Continuation, the first new Speed Six in more than 90 years. Twelve examples will be built, all of which, according to Bentley, have already found owners.
Electrification
We noticed that a lot of attention is being paid to electrifying old cars. On the one hand, we understand that owners want to be able to use their cars everywhere. On the other hand, it does bother us a little. For us, replacing the engine also takes away the soul of the car. A Jaguar XK120 should have an engine sound and not sound like a vacuum cleaner. Or are we just becoming old-fashioned?
Fortunately, there was a wide range of classic cars on display that still had their original engines. These ranged from an Aston Martin DB3 Sports racer to a Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta by Vignale and even the rare Pegaso Z-102 Race Car.
Pré-war
If you are more interested in pre-war cars, then you really couldn’t ignore this 1933 Duesenberg SJ Dual Cowl Phaeton by LaGrande. In our opinion, and judging by the general interest, this impressive car was definitely a crowd favorite. This may have had something to do with the flamboyant owner of this beautiful car, who spoke passionately about the history of this magnificent Duesenberg.
The most beautiful?
May we introduce you to the R33? This R33, built by PPW Automotive Artisans, is a tribute to the 1968 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale. And for us, it is without a doubt the star of the show. The people at Automotive Artisans have taken the art form that was the Tipo 33 Stradale to even greater heights.
When we say ‘art,’ we are not exaggerating; every detail has been carefully considered. In this way, they have created a contemporary version of a 1960s icon. Rarely have we seen this level of finish in a limited edition built by a small manufacturer.
The car may comply with current safety and environmental requirements, but it has become a very pure machine. So no ABS, no traction control, no power steering. Just you, the road, and a machine designed for this purpose. Only 33 will be built, and there are still a few available. More info on their website.
The engine is the last naturally aspirated V8 that Ferrari offered before switching to twin-turbo V8 engines. This Maserati F136 M139 4.2-liter V8 engine is a naturally aspirated 90-degree V8 engine developed by Ferrari for Maserati. This power source delivers 376 hp at 6500 rpm.
Shopping
In addition to all the cars, there is also room for quite a bit of luxury lifestyle in the Retail Village. For example, we saw Richard Hammond’s new gin and whiskey. Hammond was part of the jury on Sunday during the Concours de Vente.
Haute Horlogerie
Beautiful timepieces are always present, and this time we saw a stand by Christopher Ward. Christopher Ward is a young British watch brand founded in 2004. Its business model is rather unusual in the watch industry, as it sells exclusively online. By eliminating the traditional retail channel, it can make significant savings and thus offer top-quality watches at very competitive prices. You can read more about Christopher Ward in one of our previous articles.
Salon Privé is not just about cars. As we mentioned earlier, it is a luxury event, and you can feel that wherever you go. The champagne flows freely, in this case from Pommery.
Unless you have opted for the VIP Hospitality package, which includes delicious dining in chic restaurants, you will have to make do with the food court. There’s nothing wrong with that, though, as the quality on offer is well above average. What’s more, there was a wide choice of all kinds of cuisines.
See and be seen
Just like at the Goodwood Revival, it’s all about being seen here. On Friday, there was a ‘Dress to Impress’ day, and the couple above were well prepared.
Ladies’ Day by Boodles
Now that we have arrived at the ladies, we can say that nothing is left to chance in that area either. Of course, there are many women with a serious interest in cars, although it is generally known that it is still more of a male thing. So Salon Privé provides plenty of entertainment for the women. Also on Friday, there was a Boodles ‘Best Hat’ Competition, which, just like at our own Waregem race, is taken very seriously.
Public favorite
There are always competitions during these types of events. For example, the general public considered this 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe “Super Fast” Prototype by Pinin Farina to be the most exceptional car at the show.
Apart from the rather unusual lines, it’s not every day you see a Ferrari with a rear windshield wiper.
Best of show
This 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster from Sindelfingen won the Best of Show award at the Salon Privé Concours organized by Aviva Private Clients. This year, 60 cars, more than half of which were international entries from 13 countries, were exhibited on the grounds of Blenheim Palace to be judged by professionals. The sixty cars competing for the coveted Best of Show Award were divided into 12 classes, including pre-war American classics, 1950s Ferrari racing cars, European GTs, HJ Mulliner coachwork, and supercars from the 1980s and 1990s.
The Mercedes-Benz, exhibited by The Auriga Collection from Germany, was part of the pre-war open car class and won after the judges decided that its long rear end, high doors, and flowing bodywork were too beautiful not to receive the highest honor. The Mercedes-Benz 500 K, introduced in 1934, is considered a masterpiece of pre-war automotive craftsmanship.
Above, we see a lineup consisting of six of the rarest Ferraris ever produced, all with a glorious racing history. Ferrari dominated sports car racing in the 1950s with multiple victories in the Mille Miglia and Ferrari’s first victory at Le Mans.
Drivers such as Ascari, Castellotti, and Taruffi demonstrated their skills and proved the excellent design and durability of Ferrari sports racing cars.
Salon Privé chairman and co-founder Andrew Bagley said he was delighted to be able to add this unique class of racing Ferraris to the already impressive line-up for the 2025 Concours. It is an honor and a privilege to welcome all six Ferraris and their owners to our 20th anniversary event.
We saw this 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Vignale Berlinetta. The car was driven by two-time Formula 1 world champion Alberto Ascari in the 1952 Carrera Panamericana.
The car shown above has chassis number 0442M. It is one of only four ever produced, and the only one with a Scaglietti body. The car has a fascinating early racing history, culminating in a 5th place overall finish in the 1954 Carrera Panamericana.
What made this car extra special was that the original racing helmet and a set of original spark plugs, as well as a wealth of documentation, came with the car. Incidentally, this car was not for sale.
The 1958 250 TR Spyder was purchased by Lord Bamford in 1971. Prior to that, the Ferrari had owners in Texas and California, USA. In the 1970s, the 250 GT engine was converted to TR specifications. The car was exhibited at Goodwood Revival in 1998 before undergoing a complete restoration in 2001. It was previously exhibited at Pebble Beach Concours in 2004 and 2014 and more recently at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June 2022.
International Chief Judge Advisory Group
Salon Privé Blenheim is a competition, with numerous trophies to be awarded, and this must be done as objectively as possible. An international jury has been assembled for this purpose. They deliberate and weigh up the entries before awarding the prizes.
Lineup
After the jury has inspected and assessed the cars, those in each category line up on the podium. One by one, they are reviewed and briefly presented to the audience. The trophies are also handed out.
The Green Collection
Ferrari 250 GTO
The Ferrari 250 GTO shown above, with chassis #5895GT, is associated with the license plate “63 GTO,” under which it was registered in 1974 by its owner, Sir Anthony Bamford. The license plate “63 GTO” is a personalized license plate that refers to the model year and type of the car.
Ferrari SF90 Ispirazioni
And we’re staying with Ferrari for a moment with this ‘one of a kind’ Ferrari SF90 Ispirazioni. This custom-built SF90, called ‘Ispirazioni’, is considered the most luxurious SF90 ever built, with Verde Francesca paintwork and green carbon accents. This is one of the most expensive new Ferraris ever built.
Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake
One of Zagato’s slogans could be ‘They don’t have to be fast, they don’t have to be practical, they are designed to take your breath away with their beauty’.
The Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake shown above has it all. Breathtakingly beautiful and, with a 6.0-liter V12 engine producing 580 hp, also quite fast. Thanks to the Shooting Brake principle, it is also practical.
Engines, or rather, anything that contains an engine
At Salon Privé, it’s not all about cars. We also see a nice selection of motorcycles. These range from pure track racers to classic touring bikes.
However, if you are looking for a new boat or helicopter, you may also find something at Salon Prive Blenheim.
Conclusion
Do you love beautiful cars in a luxurious setting? Then a visit to Salon Privé (London or Blenheim) is a real must. You will see the most beautiful cars on the planet in a truly luxurious setting.
So grab your calendar and make a note of the following two dates.
Salon Privé London from April 16 to 18, 2026, at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. Click here to take a look at a previous edition.
Salon Privé Blenheim from September 2 to 6, 2026, at the Blenheim Palace estate near Oxford.
More information on the Salon Privé website. See you next year!
