I’ve learnt that the very finest of high-society Concours d’Elegance are much like buses – apparently. First you wait forever for one – thanks of course to that pandemic – and then you get two which arrive at exactly the same time.
Our hard working contributor, Tony Wawryk, has just reported from this years Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court (as he seems to do every year), but while that was on, only about 100 km to the northwest, the equally exclusive Salon Privé was competing for attention at the impressive Blenheim Palace. I was lucky enough to spend almost equal amounts of time at both venues over the extended weekend (only because I was working, I might add), which enables me to contribute to Tony’s report with a few thoughts and pictures from Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace.
Naturally, the two events largely have the same objective, but even so, there are several minor differences. In my opinion, it is impossible to say one event is clearly better than the other, but it is those differences which will make one event appeal more to an individual than does the other. All a matter of taste really.
But having a truly grand concours which is simply bursting at the seams with rare, exquisite and jaw-dropping classics is the central element of both shows. And what an element it was!
A strong lineup of five classic Ferraris spanning from the mid 60s to the mid 70s is perhaps nothing out of the ordinary at events like these, but I was rather impressed that not a single one of them was Rosso Corsa. In my opinion though, it only made the Ferraris all the more elegant and dreamworthy. I know opting for the Daytona from a row of Ferraris is almost a cliché, but the early plexiglass nose accompanied by Azzurro Hyperion blue paint and narrow, stock rear wheels made this one truly irresistible.
While on the subject of the most obvious icons, E-types were naturally out in force to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the legendary Jaguar. There were several fabulous examples displayed but the sheer brutality of the Lindner Low Drag Lightweight was especially captivating, even if the car seemed somewhat at odds with the well-kept lawns of Blenheim Palace – la Sarthe or at the very least Goodwood had perhaps offered a more fitting environment. Another very pleasant surprise was seeing the two 1961 Geneva cars – the fhc “9600 HP” and the ots “77 RW” – fronting the lineup of E-types. A more suitable couple for the 60th anniversary simply does not exist.
Pre-war cars were reasonably well represented as well – primarily by a selection of imposing Rolls-Royce and King-Kong-sized Bentleys. The stand out among these had to be the glorious 1931 Bentley 8-litre which had somehow managed to buck the trend by retaining its handsome Park Ward four-door Sports Saloon coachwork rather than ending up as yet another rebodied wanna-be Le Mans racer with VdP style bodywork. I must confess that I don’t know the history behind this particular Bentley, but every owner which has somehow been a part of that decision process should be given a medal!
There were of course a number of Aston Martins on display too, but the more obscure had made their way onto the lawn too. Talbot-Lago, Delahaye, a fabulous Tatra T87, the TVR Trident prototype by Fissore and a De Tomaso Mangusta with its characteristic gullwing engine covers. But out-dragging them all by several miles when it comes to an entirely bonkers design was the wonderful 1955 Pegaso Z-102B with coachwork by Saoutchik of Paris. I frankly don’t possess the vocabulary to describe this incredible coupé, so enjoy the pictures and just… WAUW!!
But which of the cars entered for the Concours d’Elegance would have been my personal choice? It’s of course an exercise which we all must endure at such an event.
Well, the above Pegaso came close. But I fear its uncompromising level of crazy would eventually become just a tad too much for me in the long run. Instead I was truly blown away by the equally uncompromising level of elegance amassed by the 1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Villa d’Este by Touring (a suitably big name for a big icon), which had literally just come out of a full restoration in Italy and was heading back to the owner in the USA after the show. What a car! These are simply lines with which I will never tire. But during the days I spent at the competing concours at Hampton Court, it was also an Alfa Romeo 6C which was my number one choice there – in this case the much rarer Supergioiello by Ghia equally from 1950. I wouldn’t want our valued readers to think I was inappropriately preferential towards these 6C Alfa Romeos, so the sombre black Villa d’Este will have to settle with being by runner-up at Salon Privé.
Instead, may I draw your attention to the phenomenal 1929 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Open Tourer with coachwork by Gangloff. As I chose the pictures for this report, it dawned on me that the 680 S didn’t really appear particularly big in pictures. However, I can assure you, it is massive! But this design is so perfectly harmonious that you simply don’t see its size. You must be stood next to it. And even then, it makes all the Bentleys and Rolls-Royce appear positively clumsy in comparison. For a concours – or a vintage rally driven in style for that matter – this Mercedes-Benz has to be my personal number one.
Besides the Concours d’Elegance, they had also assembled a collection of 12 very rare and exotic race- and sportscars which were given an exhibition of their own. I guess they couldn’t quite figure out what tied the collection together as they simply coined it: The Red Collection. Granted, they were indeed all red, so I suppose it did the job. That aside, there really were some gems among them.
Suitably parked in the middle was the show’s second Ferrari 250 GTO – Yes! it’s true, they had not one, but two(!!) GTOs at Salon Privé. This one however, wore the rare 1964 bodywork with its razor-sharp roofline. I know it’s not popular opinion, but I actually think I prefer the ’64 over the original ’62 design. There, I said it. Truth be told though, I spent just as much time admiring the 1949 Ferrari 166MM Barchetta and even more time with the sublime 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Spyder Zagato.
Furthermore, there were of course a number of classic car dealers with equally impressive stock displayed for sale. Contrary to Hampton Court though, there were no club displays to add variety and a splash of more common classic cars to the overall experience. I’ll let you decide for yourself whether that’s a good or bad thing. Last but not least was a vast array of upmarket goods suppliers spread across the lawn, all trying hard to convince you that your life simply wouldn’t be complete without precisely their latest offering being in your possession. Hmmm… I quietly mused to myself while enjoying my glass of bubbles.
