Salon Privé Week at Blenheim Palace has been hailed its greatest success ever as the curtain falls on four days of spectacular new model debuts, stunning classic car rarities, a jaw-dropping Salon Privé Concours victor and the finest in world-class luxury lifestyle and entertainment.
The famous Supercar Saturday at Salon Privé once again became the UK’s largest supercar garden party as the biggest single day of the four-day event saw well over 1,500 privately-owned sports, super and hypercars all hoping to walk away with one of the prized Salon Privé Club Trophies presented by Lockton.
Returning for its fifth year, the Salon Privé Club Trophy presented by Lockton awards two trophies per club, as well as the top prize for the most exceptional car of the day. This year’s line-up of car clubs included the Aston Martin Owners Club, Ferrari Owners’ Club, Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, Lamborghini Club UK, Lotus Drivers Club, Maserati Club UK, McLaren Owners Club UK, Porsche Club Great Britain and the Rolls-Royce & Bentley Enthusiasts’ Club.
After a day of judging, the 2023 Best Club Car, the model judged to be the most exceptional automobile on the day, was awarded to a beautiful 1964 Jaguar E-type S1 3.8 OTS, owned by Philip Kenworthy. Another Jaguar, an exceptional XJ220, won the Lockton SCC Trophy and a charismatic Ferrari F12 TdF was awarded the Lockton Driver’s Union Trophy. The full list of award winners is presented below.
Simon Ambler, Senior VP Head of Lockton Performance, said: “Here at Lockton, we consider Salon Privé our flagship event. All the major high-end car clubs are presented in one location, with judging held in the famous grounds of a most magnificent venue. The success of this year’s event follows an extension of our long-standing partnership with Salon Privé. I offer my thanks to everyone who showcased their wonderful automobiles, and congratulate the winners of the 2023 Salon Privé Club Trophies presented by Lockton.”
Earlier in the week, the Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva opened the event on Wednesday, with judging by world-class ICJAG experts running across two days. Notably, the Salon Privé Concours is the only ICJAG+ event in Europe, overseen by experts from the International Chief Judge Advisory Group.
The 2023 Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva was won by a superb 1937 Bugatti Type 57S by Corsica owned by JCB founder Lord Anthony Bamford. One of just 42 produced, it was the world’s only remaining ‘hidden’ pre-war Type 57S when discovered in 2023, after being owned and latterly restored by Bugatti enthusiast – and former JCB chief engineer – Bill Turnbull.
The Spirit Award – The Margaret Bagley Trophy winner was a veteran 1900 Bardon Type A Tonneau, and the Salon Privé Concours Chairman’s Award went to a thoroughly unique 1962 Hansgen Jaguar. Fittingly, the Salon Privé Duke of Marlborough Award was a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom Sedanca de Ville by Windovers – a car originally owned by John Albert Edward William Spencer Churchill, the 10th Duke of Marlborough. The 12th Duke of Marlborough, James Spencer-Churchill, made it his pick of Salon Privé at his home, Blenheim Palace.
Friday was Salon Privé Ladies’ Day presented by Boodles, where the very finest in Salon Privé style, elegance and class was enjoyed as part of the Blenheim Palace luxury lifestyle celebration. Guests enjoyed fine dining and Pommery Champagne – plus the thrill of the famous Boodles Best Hat Competition!
The Salon Privé 2023 finale saw thousands of guests enjoy Salon Privé Supercar Saturday, with the centrepiece draw being The Yellow Collection, an incredible array of iconic automotive classics all resplendent in yellow – with a jaw-dropping estimated value of £30 million! Other attractions included a gathering of Le Mans legends, to mark 100 years of the Le Mans 24 Hours race, live parades, supercar paddocks, plus London Essence cocktail bars and the indulgent Salon Privé luxury shopping village, which included items from helicopters to hats, motorcycles, boats, fashion to luxury games.
60 years of Lamborghini was celebrated in high-octane style with a memorable gathering of 60-plus classic V12 models, along with an additional display of V10 and V8 cars. The landmark new Lamborghini Revuelto graced the Italian brand’s new car stand, while the distinctive Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato also made one of its first UK appearances.
The world’s finest automotive brands showcased their latest models, with notable world, European and UK debuts unveiled on the opening day of Salon Privé 2023. The covers were pulled off the new Aston Martin DB12 Volante, and the red carpet was rolled out for the world premier of Electrogenic’s latest creation, a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II. The Clive Sutton Shelby Cobra CSX10000 is the first ready-to-go turn-key Shelby Cobra in almost 60 years, and the Totem Automobili GT Electric is a futuristic recreation of the classic Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA.
The thrilling Little Car Company Bentley Blower Jnr made its European debut and proved to be a real head-turner, while a fully electric 1992 Range Rover from Jensen Automotive was a surprise debut on Wednesday. Theon Design presented two brand new cars, their first for UK customers. Lotus also returned to Salon Privé with the new i4 Emira sports car and Eletre Hyper-SUV – and joined the line-up of automotive brands offering guests test-drives of the latest models.
Salon Privé Chairman Andrew Bagley said: “Our new four-day Salon Privé format has proven to be an overwhelming success, with our guests and partners able to showcase their wonderful collections in country-club style on the lawns of Blenheim Palace. With numerous world debuts, along with European and UK first-sees, the event continues to be a high-profile opportunity for brands to show their latest creations to our enthusiastic and elite guests. We saw notable motoring anniversaries celebrated, some of the world’s finest and rarest cars honoured in the Salon Privé Concours and with an overwhelmingly successful Supercar Saturday crowing the best cars from the UK’s finest car clubs, it was another memorable event to relish.”
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