Legendary D-type wins Salon Privé

By Mick Walsh

| 4 Sep 2014

One of the most famous Jaguar D-Types, OKV 1, scooped the top prize at Salon Privé on 3 September to kick off a busy week of classic events in London.

The first works car that debuted at Le Mans in 1954 driven to second by Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt, and now owned by Peter Neumark, beat a group of stunning concours Ferraris, and the Villa d’Este Rolls-Royce class winning Phantom II of Lord Anthony Bamford for the prestigious trophy.

“I was surprised at the result as you don’t expect competition cars to win concours events, “ said Chief Judge Derek Bell. “The Rolls-Royce was beautiful, but the D-Type is a very special historic racing car. It drives as well as it looks, and I’m looking forward to racing one next week at the Goodwood Revival.”

Salon Privé

Neumark’s D-type is one of the finest of the Malcolm Sayer designed sports prototypes, and after an illustrious racing life including second in the TT and Reims 12 Hours, it was displayed at the Paris Motor Show. In later years it was converted into a road car by ace Hamilton which became the inspiration for the factory built XKSS. After many years in Australia with ‘Jumbo’ Goddard, OKV 1 returned to the UK where it was superbly restored back to its ’54 Le Mans style.

Five D-type featured at the exclusive Syon Park event including the prototype XKC 401, and Kurt Englehorn’s XK SS that was discovered in Cuba in 1980, and won ‘best restoration’ at Salon Privé.

Salon Privé

Other star classes included 50 years of the Ferrari 275 which featured 11 of the Pininfarina beauties. The toughest class to judge was eventually topped by David Moores’ GTB/4, a US restored, 100pt Calvalino Classic winner that just pipped David Cottingham’s highly original 275 GTB ‘short nose’ which had recently returned form a tour of Greece.

Salon Privé

A special tribute to Zagato design was won by William Loughran’s stunning ’62 Aston Martin DB4GT from Hans van Eeuwijk’s exquisite Lancia Flamina Sport. Awards for the tribute to 100 Years of Maserati group were split between Dieter Roschmann’s Maserati 300S, and Andreas Pohl’s 1950 1500 GT.

Salon Privé

Several stunning restorations made debuts at Salon Privé including Nigel Allen’s faultless 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB which stylists Giles Taylor of Rolls-Royce; Ian Callum, head of Jaguar Design Studios; and legend Tom Tjaarda campaigned to win the big prize, but were out voted by the judging jury including C&SC’s Editor in Chief Mick Walsh.

Salon Privé

Stars of the pre-war entries included Nick Harley’s time warp 1939 Bentley Derby 41/4-litre Hooper coupé, that was discovered hidden away in a museum in Nieme, France.

Salon Privé

Although not a contender for judging due to starting problems, the Castagna bodied 1933 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A was one of the popular stars of the field, and was famously driven by James Dean in his last movie Giant.

Salon Privé

Other cars with famous associations included a 1962 AC Aceca 2.6 of Mark Aldridge that was delivered new to Ian Fleming just after he’d completed ‘The Spy who loved me.’ “We’ve totally restored the bodywork and mechanics, but couldn’t touch the car’s original interior as it has Fleming’s DNA,” said Aldridge who has recently completed the Liege-Rome-Liege rally in the rare Zephyr-engined coupe.

Salon Privé

James Haithwaite's wonderfully preserved 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750

Salon Privé

Christian philanthorpist Graham Dacre's massive 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman

Mick Walsh

Mick Walsh is Classic & Sports Car’s International Editor