A stunning Salon Privé spectacle at Blenheim Palace has seen this year’s event commence in consummate style with world debuts, UK reveals, and a whole host of ultra-desirable new cars showcased in the historic grounds of Sir Winston Churchill’s birthplace.
Director David Bagley opened the 2024 event with an exclusive presentation to VIPs and the media before guests arrived in force. “Salon Privé keeps on going from strength to strength. In our 19th year, we have grown into Europe’s most spectacular collection of events, offering a week-long series of truly unique automotive experiences. With a world-class Concours, the latest cars from the finest brands and a glittering array of luxury goods.”
Kingsley Re-Engineered gave a breathtaking world debut to its new definitive Defender series during the opening presentation. The new stand-alone series of restored Kingsley Defenders is described as combining “the British brand’s two-decade-long history with the Land Rover marque with modern needs”. Every alteration, insists Kingsley, both retains the essence of a Land Rover Defender “while transforming it into a perfect companion for both off- and on-road trips”.
The Oxfordshire-based firm, established in 2001 and just five miles from Blenheim Palace, has used its experience restoring over 500 classic Range Rovers and Land Rovers to create the inaugural stand-alone series of restored Kingsley Defenders. Available in D90 and D110 configurations, every meticulous alteration is said to retain the essence of a Land Rover Defender while also transforming it for modern use. At Salon Privé, the Kingsley Defender D90 was showcased, with Kingsley Re-Engineered MD John Sawbridge stating: “Our goal is to deliver a Defender that resonates with the same spirit of adventure and robustness, but with the sophistication and driving dynamics that today’s customers expect.”
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presented the Cullinan Series II which evolves and builds on this motor car’s place in the brand, proving once more that the future of this marque will be shaped in partnership with its clients and characterised by exquisite contemporary crafts. Cullinan remains the most requested Rolls-Royce within the marque’s product portfolio and the Series II is a bold evolution of the world’s pre-eminent super-luxury SUV.
British hypercar company Naran showcased its debut prototype for the first time in the UK. A striking four-seat hyper-coupe promising up to 1,000bhp, just 39 cars will be built, with deposits already accepted for the £2m supercar. “Our cars are about indulging our owners in unparalleled tailoring and visceral performance, offering them all the things they have always dreamed about in a vehicle,” said CEO Ameerh Naran. Members of the Naran team will be present throughout Salon Privé to explain more about these incredibly rare vehicles.
German powerhouse BRABUS presented a mouthwatering line-up of six thrilling cars – the BRABUS G800, BRABUS GLS800, BRABUS Range Rover SV, BRABUS Porsche Turbo S 820, BRABUS AMGT 930 and the new BRABUS SL750 Performance. As its name suggests, the BRABUS SL750 Performance has a power enhancement package including hybrid turbos that take output up to 750bhp, with a carbon fibre aerodynamics package helping it stick to the ground. This car is also fitted with newly released BRABUS Monoblock ZM alloys.
The remarkable Tuthill GT ONE made its UK debut just days after it was revealed for the first time to global acclaim at Pebble Beach. Landing at Salon Privé directly from The Quail, it’s a real homecoming for this remarkable homage to 1990s FIA GT1 racing cars for Le Mans, as Tuthill is also based just up the road from Blenheim Palace in Banbury – where the GT ONE was conceived.
The Tuthill GT ONE is a road-going car with a full carbon fibre body designed by California’s Florian Flatau. Just 22 cars will be built, each requiring 3,500 hours of meticulous build time. Owners have a choice of specifications, including either a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine, producing over 500bhp – or a turbocharged version producing over 600bhp. Richard Tuthill said: “The FIA GT1 class enabled manufacturers to created stunning race cars. We have taken the best bits but focused on producing a wonderful road car… I hope you can all enjoy it with us!”
Clive Sutton returned once again to Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace, showcasing the new turnkey Shelby Cobra, which is now available in the UK for the first time in almost 60 years. Clive Sutton is an official Shelby licensee, and the landmark agreement has led to the famous roadster’s triumphant UK return and its thrilling presence at Salon Privé. It was showcased alongside a bespoke-built 1967 Mustang GT500CS and the attention-grabbing Clive Sutton VIP Taxi.
Clive Sutton also debuted a new luxury conversion, the VIP Class Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, with seven airline-style massage seats, twin 43-inch 4K screens and a panoramic glass roof. “Our customers demanded a level of luxury and convenience that surpasses what is available in the standard luxury vehicle market,” explained Clive Sutton when asked what led to the First Class Sprinter. Salon Privé is the perfect setting for such customers to inspect it.
The MG Cyber GTS was showcased just weeks after its world debut to celebrate MG’s 100th anniversary. Inspired by the 1968 MGC GTC Sebring, which secured the best-ever factory MG result at the legendary 12 Hours of Sebring, the sleek coupe is finished in classic British Racing Green. The electric GT is said to capture the spirit of the MGC GTS Sebring “whilst delivering a rear-wheel drive car utilising the MG of today’s advanced, high-performance EV powertrains… the Cyber GTS Concept explores the further potential for MG creating a new future for GTS model in the EV era”.
Brand-new Italian automotive icons were out in force at Salon Privé. Making its UK debut, the new Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo, an evocative four-seat luxury cabriolet powered by a 550bhp 3.0-litre V6 ‘Nettuno’ twin-turbo engine which took part in the Salon Privé parade. Joining the other two models, the GranTurismo Trofeo PrimaSerie, celebrating 75 years of grand touring from the Trident.
Other brands at Salon Privé 2024 include Aston Martin, Bentley, Electrogenic, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Lotus, Morgan, Oshe Automotive, Porsche Centre High Wycombe 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. This coming weekend, the thrilling Salon Privé Supercar Saturday presented by Lockton will be dedicated to celebrating this world-class array of cars – along with a gathering of more than 1,500 privately-owned sports, super and hypercars to excite families, create priceless memories… and generate first-class social media content. There will be attention-grabbing automotive parades and the Salon Privé Club Trophy parade and presentation.
Salon Privé is famous for celebrating colour. In 2021, it was red; in 2022, it was platinum; in 2023, it was yellow. This year, guests are being wowed by the Blue Collection, a curated collation of connoisseur cars from all eras worth over £120 million. Highlights of the collection gracing the Duke’s central cricket square include a 1951 Bentley Petersen Dartmoor Coupe, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB, a 1979 Ferrari 512BB, a 1980 Lotus Esprit ‘Essex’, a 2019 McLaren Senna and a unique 1989 Ferrari F40 finished in unique Azzurro Hyperion, a colour that harks right back to the 1960s.
Moving to the luxury lifestyle, a highlight of the opening morning was a special event with Renauld, known as the Ultimate Driving Sunglasses. Chase McQueen from McQueen Racing – grandson of Steve McQueen – took part in a historic Q&A with drivers from the cult classic film Le Mans. Wearing notable ‘The Car 20 by Renauld’ sunglasses and Steve McQueen’s original racing jacket from the film, he spoke to David Piper, Richard Attwood, onset mechanic Richard Bray and Peter Darley, who strapped McQueen into his car during every racing scene. Renauld CEO Gareth Llewelyn hosted the historic Q&A.
Salon Privé is world-famous for exploring the luxury lifestyle well beyond cars. It is now 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, the extraordinary array of luxury brands includes jewellery, art, champagne, watches, yachts, helicopters, tailoring, eyewear, private banking, and private jets. Friday is Salon Privé Style Day, presented by Boodles, where all things luxury lifestyle will be celebrated in full.
Attention now also turns to the main Salon Privé Concours, presented by Aviva. 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 days of judging. This year, the world-class show field comprises 72 entries, including 26 international entries, with no fewer than 15 countries represented, from as far afield as the US, Thailand and New Zealand.
Salon Privé is the only Concours officially judged Concours event in the UK, adjudicated by the International Chief Judge Advisory Group (ICJAG). “Salon Privé is exceptionally proud to be one of just four ICJAG Plus-designated events globally, and we are very grateful to the 30 international experts who join us each year to judge,” said Director Andrew Bagley. “We are all very excited to see which of the stunning cars we have on display this year will be judged Best of Show 2024.”
Salon Privé Week 2024
27 August – Salon Privé MotorAvia
28 August – Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva Private Clients
29 August – Salon Privé Concours Awards presented by Aviva Private Clients
30 August – Salon Privé Style Friday presented by Boodles
31 August – Salon Privé Supercar Saturday and Club Trophy presented by Lockton
Tickets can be purchased via salonpriveconcours.com
Click here for Kingsley Defenders new web site and configurator designed and built by Racecar
Charity Partner
Salon Privé are proud to support the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). By supporting NSPCC, we hope to make a lasting impact on the lives of children in raising much needed funds to support its life changing services. Donations from the event will go towards supporting the NSPCC’s mission to protect children from abuse and neglect, providing vital services and support to those who need it most across the UK and Channel Islands.
