Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

The Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance opens today at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. More than 100 years of motoring history are on show at the five day event, which brings together some of the finest automobiles in the world. Some stellar entries have also been confirmed for this years Concours d’Elégance, with a total of 68 cars in the running for the prestigious “Best of Show” award.

Marking the 60th anniversary of the launch of the legendary E-type, the Concours d’Elégance with feature the famous low-drag Lightweight that was raced in period by German duo Peter Lindner and Peter Nöcker. The car was painstakingly rebuilt by marque specialist Classic Motor Cars more than 40 years after its tragic accident during the 1964 Paris 1000km.

Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

A 1965 Series I 4.2 fixed-head coupe that was owned by Motor Sport correspondent Denis Jenkinson will also be part of the Concours d’Elégance. ‘Jenks’ used the E-type to follow the motor-racing circus around Europe for his race reports and Continental Notes column.

Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

On display alongside it will be two of the most famous E-types of all. 9600 HP is a pre-production model that is the oldest surviving example, and which was used not only for the famous 150mph road test in The Autocar, but also for the E-type’s official launch at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show. It was later joined in Geneva by 77 RW, Jaguar’s second road-test E-type and the first production roadster – and the two of them will be reunited at Salon Privé. Not only that, two of Jaguar Classic’s 60 Edition tributes to 9600 HP and 77 RW will also be gracing the lawns of Blenheim Palace.

Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

A number of significant Bentleys are set to take centre-stage, including a 3 Litre that was built at the Cricklewood factory specifically for the 1927 Le Mans 24 Hours. This was in the midst of the ‘Bentley Boy’ domination of the French endurance classic, and although YF 2503 got entangled in the infamous accident that also eliminated one of the other Bentleys, it survived to enjoy a long and illustrious competition career through the 1920 and 1930s.

Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

It will be joined in the Pre-War Sports Class by a 1925 3 Litre – the ninth of only 18 Super Sports models built, and one of only four to retain its original bodywork – and a 1926 4½ Litre that was owned by Woolf Barnato. Three times a Le Mans winner for the marque, Barnato saved Bentley from collapse when he bought the company in 1926.

Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

Some of the most striking road cars of the pre- and post-war period will take part in the Concours d’Elégance presented by Aviva, with the Pre-War Tourers Class featuring coachbuilt beauties from Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Talbot-Lago. Nearby in the Fit For A King Class will be a Hooper-bodied Bentley MkVI that was built in 1949 for the Maharaja of Mysore – Sir Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar. The distinctive two-tone Bentley features a luxurious interior and has recently been restored to original specification.

The GPBox Vintage Car Memorabilia Collection

The Racing Greats Class is set to showcase competition legends from a Jaguar XK 120 and C-type to an ex-Monte-Carlo Rally Aston Martin DB2/4, one of Ferrari’s gorgeous 750 Monza sports-racers, and a 1965 Ford GT40.

Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

On display alongside them will be one of the greatest competition GTs of all time, and the holy grail for collectors – a Ferrari 250 GTO. Chassis 3767 GT will be reunited with its first owner, British privateer David Piper, on Wednesday 1 September.

Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

At opposite ends of the Salon Privé timeline will be the Early Pioneers Class – featuring a 1903 Panhard et Levassor and a 1915 Ford Model T, plus a pair of Rolls-Royce’s majestic 20hp – and the Classics of the Future Class. The latter will include one of Jaguar’s Group C-derived XJR-15s alongside an XJ220 supercar.



Covid restrictions prevented Pininfarina’s 90th anniversary being celebrated during last year’s Salon Privé Week, but the tribute has been carried over into 2021. A special class dedicated to the revered design house will include the first Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona to be delivered to the UK, a very rare right-hand-drive Ferrari 275 GTS, and a Ferrari 330 GTS that was displayed at the 1967 Turin Motor Show and which has picked up numerous concours awards in recent years.

Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

Rarities will abound across the show field. One of only six Austin-Healey 100s to be converted into a coupé by Belgian coachbuilder D’Ieteren will be part of the Post-War Closed (British) Class, while the Post-War Open Class features a Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport that was a star of the concours d’elégance scene in France in the early 1950s, and which features unique Franay cabriolet coachwork.

Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

The Concours d’Elégance presented by Aviva is the traditional curtain-raiser for Salon Privé Week, and this year takes place on Wednesday 1 September. On the same day, the wraps will be coming off a brand-new feature for 2021 – The Red Collection. This carefully curated display of 12 cars will include last year’s Best of Show winner – the 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Zagato Spider.

Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

Along with the Class awards and the coveted Best of Show, the Churchill Cup for ‘Most Exceptional Design’ will be presented on Thursday 2 September. Named in honour of Sir Winston Churchill, who was born at Blenheim Palace, it will be judged by some of the most respected automotive designers in the world, including Marek Reichman, Peter Stevens, Julian Thomson and Ian Callum. They’re set to be joined by Event Patron the Duke of Marlborough, Le Mans legend Derek Bell and supermodel Yasmin Le Bon.

Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

Salon Privé Director Andrew Bagley said: ‘This year’s Concours d’Elégance presented by Aviva has once again attracted a stellar entry, which reflects Salon Privé’s standing as one of the world’s most prestigious events. Our panel of ICJAG judges are all experts in their field, and they’re going to have their work cut out to decide the winners.’

More details about this years Salon Privé can be found on the shows website.



Salon Privé returns with stellar entries for the Concours d’Elégance

Full list of vehicles on display in the Concours d’Elégance 2021:

1903    Panhard et Levassor 80hp

1904    Cadillac 8¼hp Model B Rear-Entrance Tonneau

1915    Ford Model T

1923    Rolls-Royce 20hp Barrel-Sided Tourer by Barker & Co

1925    Bentley Super Sports by Short

1927    Rolls-Royce 20hp Tourer by Barker

1927    Bentley 3 Litre Vanden Plas ‘Le Mans’

1929    Mercedes-Benz 680 S Open Tourer Gangloff

1929    Bentley 4½ Litre, ex-Woolf Barnato

1930    Ford Model A

1930    Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental by Windover

1931    Bentley 8 Litre Park Ward Four-Door Sports Saloon

1932    Ford 3-Window Coupe (i)

1932    Ford 3-Window Coupe (ii)

1932    Ford Model B – Roadster

1934    Ford Coupe

1937    Talbot-Lago T15 Cabriolet by Worblaufen

1937    Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca de Ville by Arthur Mulliner

1938    Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A Sindelfingen

1938    SS 100 3½ Litre Roadster

1946    Tatra T87 Aerodynamic Saloon

1947    Bentley Mark VI Cabriolet by Franay

1948    Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet by Franay

1949    Bentley Mark VI Light Touring Saloon by Hooper & Co

1950    Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Villa d’Este Coupé by Touring

1950    Ferrari 195 Inter Ghia Coupé

1950    Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Coupé by Saoutchik

1951    Jaguar XK120 Roadster

1951    Delahaye 235 Cabriolet by Figoni & Falaschi

1952    Jaguar C-type

1953    Aston Martin DB2 Drophead Coupe

1953    Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A Sindelfingen

1954    Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1 Coupé by D’Ieteren Frères

1955    Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 ‘Monte Carlo Rally’

1955    Ferrari 750 Monza Spider

1955    Pegaso Z-102B Coupé by Saoutchik

1958    Bristol 406 S ‘Prototype’

1960    Aston Martin DB4 Series 1 FHC by Touring

1960    Aston Martin DB4 GT by Touring

1960    Jaguar E-type 3.8 GT Fixed Head Coupe ‘9600 HP’

1961    Jaguar E-type 3.8 OTS ’77 RW’

1961    Jaguar E-type 3.8 Open

1962    Ferrari 250 GTO

1962    Eagle Low Drag GT

1963    Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Spider 101 Series

1963    Jaguar E-type Lightweight ‘The Lindner Low Drag’

1963    Jaguar E-type 60 Edition – Flat Out Grey ‘9600 HP’

1964    Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider by Touring

1964    Jaguar E-type 60 Edition – Drop Everything Green ’77 RW’

1965    Ford GT40 Mk1

1965    Aston Martin DB5 Convertible by Touring, ex-Prince Michael of Kent

1965    Aston Martin DB5 FHC by Touring

1965    Ferrari 275 GTS

1965    Jaguar E-type 4.2 GT Fixed Head Coupe ex-Denis ‘Jenks’ Jenkinson

1965    TVR Trident Prototype by Fissore

1966    Jaguar E-type 4.2 GT Fixed Head Coupe

1966    Eagle Speedster

1967    Ferrari 330 GTC

1967    Ferrari 275 GTB/4

1967    Ferrari 330 GTS

1968    Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’

1969    Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupé by Ghia

1972    De Tomaso Mangusta by Ghia

1974    Dino 246 GTS

1979    Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Limousine by H.J. Mulliner Park Ward

1991    Jaguar XJR-15

1993    Jaguar XJ 220

1998    Aston Martin Project Vantage

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