Spectacular trio win coveted awards on first day of 2024 Salon Privé Concours

Iconic cars spanning almost 110 years of automotive history have picked up three of the main prizes at this year’s Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva Private Clients. The Duke of Marlborough Award has been presented to a 1993 Lamborghini Diablo entered by Lars Nielsen. Finished in the striking shade of Diablo Rosso, the UK-supplied example was in single ownership between 1994 and 2012 and has recently been restored to original specification. Presented with matching numbers and in its factory colour scheme, it’s one of the very finest examples of this Marcello Gandini-designed, V12-engined supercar.

The Chairman’s Award was presented to a magnificent 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost that was built at the company’s Springfield works in Massachusetts. Delivered to Penn Motors in June 1924 wearing an enclosed Pickwick town-car body, it was sold to its first private owner – Robert M Stein of Baltimore – in September 1926.

Two years later, Stein returned chassis 77JH to the Springfield factory so that it could have Pall Mall tourer coachwork fitted. The Silver Ghost has existing in this configuration ever since and was restored by LaVine Restorations in 2022-23, after which it finished second in class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This highly distinguished vintageant is one of only two surviving American-built Pall Mall tourer dual-cowl cars, and was entered by Jack Boyd-Smith Jnr.

A 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V by Mulliner Park Ward that was once owned by John Lennon picked up the George Barry Gregory Trophy after being selected for the Most Iconic award. Supplied new in May 1965 to Patrick Barthropp and registered PPB1, it was sold to the Beatles star in 1967, given the new registration EUC 100C and resprayed white. Lennon also had a Webasto roof fitted, as well as a Philips record player, an 8-track, a telephone and a television. White calico covers were used for the interior because Lennon and Yoko Ono didn’t want to use animal hides.

The Rolls-Royce appeared in the Beatles film Let It Be, as well as Performance, which starred Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. In September 1969, Lennon sold the car to Allen Klein, founder of ABKCO Records and the Beatles’ manager at the time. It has remained with the family ever since and was entered by Jody Klein.

“The cars that have very deservedly won these three awards highlight the sheer variety of this year’s Concours entry,” said Salon Privé Chairman Andrew Bagley. “The standard was so high that it made choosing a winner in each category particularly difficult, but the Silver Ghost and Diablo are truly special cars – and you don’t get much more iconic than an ex-John Lennon Rolls-Royce.”

This year’s Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva Private Clients was the largest and most prestigious to date, with 72 cars being entered across 14 different classes. They ranged from the ever-popular pre-war categories to celebrations of Bugatti, Rolls-Royce and Ferrari. Fan favourites included Legendary Liveries – which showcased iconic colour schemes such as a Silk Cut Jaguar XJR 8/9, an Alitalia Lancia Stratos HF and a 555 Subaru Impreza WRC97 – while a new class for 2024 honoured the 60th anniversary of the Ferrari 275. 

All entries gathered on the beautiful South Lawn at Blenheim Palace, having come from as far afield as the USA, Thailand and even New Zealand. They were judged by an unrivalled panel of international experts, with all entries being adjudicated by the International Chief Judge Advisory Group (ICJAG). Salon Privé is one of four ICJAG Plus-designated events in the world, and the only one to be held in the UK.