15 gorgeous cars at Salon Privé 2020

Brilliance at Blenheim

The annual automotive celebration that is Salon Privé returns to the majestic grounds of Blenheim Palace this year – in fact, it’s on now (23-26 September).

We took an early look at the priceless metal on show at Winston Churchill’s old manor during a media preview, so if you’re going to the sold-out event, here’s what to expect and if you’re not, you still get to enjoy it.

International launches and European and UK debuts took much of the attention, but there was still plenty of classic interest on show.

1. Lamborghini Miura

Where better to start than at the beginning of the Lamborghini Miura in the UK?

On the Furlonger stand is the very car that was displayed at Earls Court in 1967, and the first right-hand-drive example. Its first owner was a member of the Thomas Cook family, and it was restored just two years ago.

Lamborghini Miura (cont.)

It is in rarefied company: beside is a Ferrari 250 Lusso, with a 275GTB and Daytona opposite.

Not to mention the Bugatti Veyron… And the Porsche 917 that won the mini concours at Hampton Court Palace’s Concours of Elegance at the start of the month.
 

2. Ferrari 166MM Pinin Farina

The world’s most famous manufacturer is ably represented, with Ferraris rarely out of eyeshot.

One of these is this 166MM, chassis 0346M, that was once found in a backyard and has been on the road to originality ever since, eventually being certified by the Classiche department at Maranello in December 2019.

3. Ferrari 500TRC

More colourful is this Equipe National Belge and Ecurie Francorchamps 500TRC, driven by Lucien Bianchi and George Harris to seventh place at Le Mans in 1957.

Most importantly, that was the first of the 2-litre runners, so it scored a class win. 

4. Ferrari 250LM

Like the mini 917 at Furlonger, the Ferrari 250LM on DK Engineering’s stand will be familiar to anyone who attended the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court. It was among the central display of cars, 55 years after it nearly claimed the most surprising of Le Mans wins.

Privateers Pierre Dumay and ‘Taf’ Gosselin led in the closing stages, only to blow a tyre under pressure from Masten Gregory in the similar car he shared with Jochen Rindt. 

5. DK Engineering

We’re underplaying this here by this slide being ‘just’ number five – it accounts for eight fantastic classics!

The rest of DK’s offering is similarly impressive. If you can look past the ultra-rare Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, you’ll find Ferraris such as a short-nose GTB, ex-Johnny Cecotto F40, 275GTS, 288GTO and flared-arch Dino, Porsche Carrera GT and Lamborghini Miura S.

6. Bentley ‘Blower’

One of the earliest competition cars on display, Bentley’s own Blower has rarely looked better.

Midway through its restoration following its dismantling to be scanned for the 12 sold-out Continuation models, the car has apparently revealed many secrets to the Crewe engineers. Among them is that the original colour is much lighter than what’s on it now, found in places and apparently an option to new-car buyers.

Bentley ‘Blower’ (cont.)

The super-shiny nose is not some touch-up job, either, but the result of a very careful cleaning process. 

Chances are running out to see the Blower in its complete glory, because the 90-year-old body could be moved to the museum to help it hit 100 and beyond. A replacement will be made to ensure the rest of the car will be on the various rallies and world tours as ever.

Oddly, it wasn’t the oldest item on the Bentley stand… Not by a long shot: within the Mulliner Bacalar, also a one-of-12 special, is a piece of 5000-year-old wood from a fallen tree. 

7. McLaren F1s

A quarter of a century on since the model’s surprise win at La Sarthe, a group of McLaren F1s greet visitors.

In long-tail and short-tail form, the line-up showcases the variety that could still be found in the legendary car.
 

8. Gulf McLaren F1 GTR

Most familiar of the lot, which included the Lark-liveried GTR, has to be the long-tail Gulf car.

Though this never raced at Le Mans, Geoff Lees and Swede Anders Olofsson pedalled the car for much of the 1997 FIA GT Championship season. Le Mans winner John Nielsen raced the car at Suzuka, too.
 

9. Art Sports McLaren F1

The Dane had driven this to fourth place in 1996, too, with Peter Kox and Thomas Bscher to be the best of the F1s behind the mighty Porsches.

But Nielsen is better remembered for driving another British car at Le Mans…
 

10. Jaguar XJR-8

Albeit in a Silk Cut XJR-12, not an XJR-8 such as this. Still, it was shared by Martin Brundle, Johnny Dumfries and eventual world champion Raul Boesel to victory at the Spa 1000km in 1987.

And, tucked away in front of the house, it’s easily missed. So don’t.

11. Lister Storm

As is the unforgettable Lister Storm from 1998/’99 driven by Jamie Campbell-Walter and Julian Bailey.

A striking car as it is, but that Newcastle United emblem plastered across its nose ensured it remains a cult figure of late 1990s GT racing.

Lister Storm (cont.)

There was an even more overtly Newcastle-branded car, black and white stripes and all, but this recalls once-Formula One talent Bailey’s rich success in 1999 and 2000, when he won the British GT and FIA GT Championships in the Jag V12-powered monster.

12. Kremer Porsche 962C

Ending the run of fabled GT and prototype sports cars is this Kenwood-branded Porsche 962 by Kremer. The name of Derek Bell beneath the drivers’ door window signifies a Le Mans outing of a different sort: the 2012 Classic.

In 1989 Kunimitsu Takahashi, Hideki Okada and former Alfa Romeo Grand Prix racer Bruno Giacomelli shared the chassis to ninth place at Le Mans. 

Elsewhere in the line-up (and undercover all Tuesday) is a pair of Alfa Romeo Tipo 33s.
 

13. Ford GT40

In the vast concours field – not all of which was in position on the media preview day – you’ll find a Ford GT40 Mk1 from 1966.

Very few of the big Ford bruisers made it on to the road: this is the fourth of just 31.

Ford GT40 (cont.)

Thought to be one of the most original in existence, the car was the first delivered to a private owner, James Fielding. The man who gave him the keys? Jackie Stewart.

14. Citroën ‘Le Paris’

As if Chapron Citroëns weren't rare enough, fewer than 10 fixed-head coupés known as Le Paris were made in 1959. 

Only three are believed to remain, combining the factory car and Chapron’s Croisette. 

15. Touring Superleggera Aero 3

There were limited-run car launches aplenty, and chief interest among them – for us… – was the return of Touring Superleggera.

The Aero 3 is based on the Ferrari F12 but is packed with nods to arch rival Alfa Romeo and the Touring 8C-2900 B Le Mans Coupé Berlinetta Aerodinamica.

Touring Superleggera Aero 3 (cont.)

From the 19 that adorns the sides, the long dropping nose, rear fin and its degree-angle markings, to the helmets in what passes for a boot, it's a new car with full focus on its illustrious past. 

Albeit one of glorious failure: Raymond Sommer and Clemente Biondetti led the 1938 Le Mans well into Sunday morning, but retired from an 11-lap lead in the Le Mans Speciale.

So, 15 stunners – and a few bonus classics for you. And, of course, if you’re heading to Salon Privé in the next few days, expect plenty more to enjoy, too.