Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace 2024 – an unparalleled collection of automotive events

This year’s Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace is set to present an unparalleled array of extraordinary experiences, including more than 70 cars competing in the Concours, the latest super and hyper cars from the world’s finest brands, a glittering array of luxury goods, and this year soaring to new heights a kick-off party like no other. Get ready to take off at MotorAvia.

Now in its 19th year, Salon Privé has developed into Europe’s most spectacular collection of events with a week-long series of unique automotive experiences. Its Royal Ascot meets cars all the way.  

The week kicks off with the Cotswolds Tour and MotorAvia creating a buzz in the build-up to the event and allowing entrants to enjoy their collectable classics in the company of other like-minded enthusiasts, all with the level of luxury hospitality Salon Privé are now renowned for. 

Then it is on to the main Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva, now unquestionably one of the most elite concours in the world. The Salon Privé Best of Show is always a highlight of the Blenheim Palace event.

Last year, a superb 1937 Bugatti Type 57S by Corsica, owned by JCB founder Lord Bamford, emerged victorious after two intensive days of judging. One of just 42 produced, Lord Bamford’s car was announced by Concours Chairman Andrew Bagley as “such a hugely significant car… this Bugatti is all-original and is one of the world’s greatest pre-war sports racers.”

This year, Concours classes include the ever-popular Pre-War Open and Pre-War Closed, Bugatti: Grand Prix to Grand Touring, Inspiring Greatness: 120 Years of Rolls-Royce, Sports Racers, and Ferraris of the ’50s and ’60s. Fan favourites include Supercar Icons: Prancing Horse,  Supercar Icons to 2005, and Legendary Liveries, which this year includes a 1987 ‘Silk Cut’ Jaguar XJR 8/9, 1987 ‘Rothmans’ Porsche 962, 1974 ‘Alitalia’ Lancia Stratos HF and a 1996 Subaru Impreza’ 555′ WRC97 by Prodrive. 

Special entries include seven storied Rolls-Royces to celebrate 120 years of the world-renowned automobile manufacturer – including a Phantom V once belonging to John Lennon – along with legendary sports racers from Jaguar, Lister, MG and Porsche. Three rare pre-series Geneva Motor Show cars from the 1950s and 1960s will be presented – a 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A, 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder and 1961 Jaguar E-type – and Bugatti’s greatest racer, the Type 35, will be marking a century since its birth at Blenheim Palace. 

There is a new class in the Concours for 2024 in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Ferrari 275. Five iconic cars will be at Blenheim Palace, including a very rare Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione. Two more storied Ferraris are to be celebrated too; a 1957 Ferrari 335S which has been driven by Stirling Moss, Peter Collins, Mike Hawthorn, Wolfgang von Trips, and used as the reference for Michael Mann’s ‘Ferrari’ film, and a unique 1950 Ferrari166MM/212 Export ‘Uovo’, an exceptional car seldom seen at Concours events.

In the largest and most prestigious Salon Privé Concours to date, 72 cars have been entered across 13 different categories, 26 of which are from overseas, with some entered from as far as the US, Thailand, and New Zealand. Three cars are each over 75 years old and have never been restored, and the 1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith has been in the same family since it was new in 1939—that’s more than 85 years!

Salon Privé is the only officially judged Concours event in the UK, and the International Chief Judge Advisory Group (ICJAG) adjudicates the entries. “Salon Privé is exceptionally proud to be one of only four ICJAG Plus-designated events globally, and we are very grateful to the 30 international experts who join us each year to judge,” said Andrew Bagley. 

Beyond the Salon Privé Concours, the world’s finest automotive brands will be presented with an unparalleled range of new models. A highlight will be the Tuthill GT ONE, which is making its UK debut just days after being revealed to the world at Pebble Beach. This will be the first UK sighting of the new Tuthill GT ONE and the first time the car has been seen in public anywhere outside of the US. 

KINGSLEY promises a genuine world debut for Salon Privé – watch this space on Wednesday – and both the Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo and Naran prototype hyper-coupe will be making their UK debuts. Salon Privé will also be one of the first chances to see the new MG Cyber GTS Concept, which was revealed just weeks ago as part of the British brand’s 100th-anniversary celebrations.

Other brands at Salon Privé 2024 include Aston Martin, Bentley, BRABUS, Clive Sutton, Electrogenic, Koenigsegg, Lotus, Morgan, Oshe Automotive, Porsche Centre High Wycombe, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Theon Design, and Zenvo. Cars will be on display on the grounds of Blenheim Palace, and they will take part in the hugely popular daily Salon Privé Parade, where guests can see the cars in action. 

Landmark Porsche 911 anniversary celebrations at Salon Privé include 50 years of the iconic Porsche 911 Turbo and 25 years of the Porsche 911 GT3; to mark this, the biggest-ever show of Porsche models will be gathered at Blenheim Palace for Supercar Saturday. 

Salon Privé is a renowned luxury lifestyle event with a wealth of attractions for those with discerning tastes. The curated selection of lifestyle goods sees leading brands in their chosen fields represented at Salon Privé, offering a diverse array of interesting luxury goods for the connoisseur lifestyle. This year, an extraordinary array of luxury brands will be present, including jewellery, art, champagne, watches, yachts, helicopters, tailoring, eyewear, private banking, and private jets. 

In a notable special event with Renauld, known as the Ultimate Driving Sunglasses, Chase McQueen from McQueen Racing – grandson of Steve McQueen – will take part in a historic Q&A with drivers from the cult classic film Le Mans on Wednesday, 28 August, at 10.30am. He’ll be wearing notable ‘The Car 20 by Renauld’ sunglasses and Steve McQueen’s original racing jacket from the film and speaking to David Piper, Richard Attwood, onset mechanic Richard Bray and Peter Darley, which strapped McQueen into his car during every racing scene. Renauld CEO Gareth Llewelyn will host the historic Q&A. 

Salon Privé Director David Bagley said: “We have an extraordinary array of attractions at Salon Privé Blenheim this year. It is now a week of events for our guests to enjoy, with world-class experiences to please everyone. I can’t wait to present everything we have to offer as we keep on building to Salon Privé’s landmark 20th anniversary in 2025.” 

Salon Privé Concours 2024 Entrants

Class A – Pre-War Open
1927     Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8AS Fleetwood Roadster
1928     Bentley 4 1/2L Drophead by Victor Broom
1931     Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GT by Castagna
1936     Fiat 1500 6C Cabriolet by Ghia (HC)
1937     Cord 812 SC Convertible Phaeton

Class B – Bugatti – Grand Prix to Grand Touring
1926     Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix
1927     Bugatti Type 35B
1927     Bugatti Type 38 Philadelphia by Figoni
1932     Bugatti Type 55 by Gangloff
1939     Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Saoutchik

Class C – Pre-War Closed/Elegance
1930     Bentley 4 1/2L Sport Saloon by Freestone & Webb
1934     Bentley Streamline Sport Saloon by Park Ward
1938     Bentley 4 1/4L Brougham de Ville by James Young

Class D1 – Inspiring Greatness – 120 Years of Rolls-Royce (Pre-war)
1911     Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost ‘London-Edinburgh’ by Holmes
1923     Rolls-Royce Springfield Silver Ghost Pall Mall
1933     Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sport Saloon by Freestone & Webb
1939     Rolls-Royce Wraith by Mann Egerton 

Class D2 – Inspiring Greatness – 120 Years of Rolls-Royce (Post-war)
1953     Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith by Hooper & Co.
1954     Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn DHC by Park Ward
1969     Rolls-Royce Phantom VI by Park Ward
1965     Rolls-Royce Phantom V by Mulliner Park Ward
1988     Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit 2 Door by Hooper & Co.
2019     Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII (HC)

Class E – Post-War Open
1948     Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Vesters & Neirinck
1950     Jaguar XK120 OTS
1951     Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet A
1957     BMW 503 Cabriolet
1958     Porsche 356 A Convertible by Reutter
1960     Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale

Class F1 – Post-War Closed (International)
1960     Maserati 3500GT by Touring
1961     Facel Vega HK500
1968     Lamborghini Islero GT by Marazzi
1971     Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupé
1971     Monteverdi High Speed 375L by Fizzore

Class F2 – Post-War Closed (British)
1946     Invicta Black Prince by Charlesworth
1952     Jaguar XK120 Supersonic by Ghia
1961     Jaguar E-type Series I Coupé
1963     Lotus Elite Super 95
1986     Aston Martin V8 Vantage X Pack

Class G – Sports Racers
1951     Jaguar XK120 OTS
1954     Jaguar D-type
1956     Lister Maserati
1957     Ferrari 335S by Scaglietti
1958     AC Ace
1962     Lotus 20/22 Formula Junior (HC)
1966     Bizzarrini GT Strada 5300
1966     Porsche 906 (Carrera 6)
1967     MGC GTS Lightweight

Class H – Ferraris of the ’50s & ’60s
1950     Ferrari 166MM/212 Export ‘Uovo’ by Fontana (HC)
1953     Ferrari 166 MM Spider by Vignale
1963     Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupé Aerodinamico by Pininfarina
1966     Ferrari 275 GTB/4 by Pininfarina
1966     Ferrari 500 Superfast by Pininfarina

Class I – 60th Anniversary of the Ferrari 275
1965     Ferrari 275 GTB/4 by Pininfarina
1965     Ferrari 275 GTB/C by Pininfarina
1966     Ferrari 275 GTB/2 by Pininfarina
1966     Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina

Class J – Legendary Liveries
1974     Lancia Stratos HF by Bertone – Alitalia
1987     Rothmans Porsche 962 (HC)
1987     Silk Cut Jaguar XJR 8/9 (HC)
1988     Shell Dunlop Porsche 962 (HC)
1988     Taka-Q Toyota 88C (HC)
1996     Subaru Impreza WRC97 by Prodrive – 555

Class K – Supercar Icons – Prancing Horse
1985     Ferrari 288 GTO by Pininfarina
1990     Ferrari Testarossa by Pininfarina
1991     Ferrari F40 by Pininfarina (HC)
1996     Ferrari F50 by Pininfarina
1996     Ferrari F50 by Pininfarina

Class L – Supercar Icons to 2005
1975     Porsche 930 3.0
1993     Lamborghini Diablo by Gandini
1999     Aston Martin V8 Vantage Le Mans
2004     Porsche 996.2 GT2