1–5 SEPTEMBER 2021
Unique 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K set to grace Blenheim Palace
1929 Gangloff-bodied Mercedes-Benz 680S will also star in concours
First UK public appearance since 1950 for immaculately restored SS 100
The 2021 Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance will feature more than 100 of the world’s finest cars, across nine classes that will cover over a century of motoring history. Each will have its own story to tell, and this year three very special pre-war cars will line up against the spectacular backdrop of Blenheim Palace in a bid to impress a panel of the world’s most experienced and knowledgeable ICJAG concours judges.
Even in an era that was renowned for producing some of the most beautiful high-performance cars ever made, the Mercedes-Benz 540K stood out as being a landmark achievement and remains one of the most coveted of all pre-war models. With its 5.4-litre supercharged straight-eight engine, it offered genuine 100mph performance as well as a luxuriously appointed interior. As Mercedes-Benz put it when its flagship model was launched at the 1936 Paris Salon, this was truly ‘a car for the connoisseur’.
Road-testers were universal in their praise of the 540K’s blend of speed and comfort. The Autocar recorded a top speed of 104.65mph at Brooklands – complete with three passengers – and its writers were mesmerised by the sound of the supercharger coming in on full throttle.
One of only 98 cars thought to have been built during 1938, the 540K Cabriolet A that will grace the South Lawn at Blenheim Palace was uniquely specified by its first owner. Chassis number 154076 was delivered on 5 February 1938 to Tauentzien-Verlag, a Berlin advertising agency whose proprietor was Georg Niedermeier. Its one-off configuration combined the two-seater Cabriolet A coachwork with the longer-wheelbase chassis, and an engine and gearbox that were set back by almost 20cm.
The 540K will be joined at Blenheim Palace by a fabulous 1929 Mercedes-Benz 680S that was bodied by renowned coachbuilder Gangloff, which produced coachwork for the era’s finest marques – among them Rolls-Royce, Hispano-Suiza, Isotta Fraschini and Bugatti.
Chassis number 35979 was delivered to the Swiss carrosserie in October 1928 so that it could be fitted with a Sport 4 body. In early 1929, the finished car was displayed at the Copenhagen Motor Show, where it was admired by Prince Axel of Denmark, before being sold to its first owner – Hermann Schreiber of Grenchen, Switzerland.
During the 1950s, the 680S was modified into two-seater form, but much of the front half of the bodywork was retained. More recently, it has been treated to a ground-up restoration that has returned it to its original appearance, using photographs that were taken in period at the Mercedes-Benz factory.
Lining up alongside the brace of Mercedes at Salon Privé will be one of England’s most rakish pre-war sports cars. The SS 100 was built by SS Cars Ltd, which had been founded by William Lyons and would change its name to Jaguar following World War Two. In 3.5-litre form, the SS 100 helped to set a template that Jaguar later perfected – strong performance and good looks at a relatively low price.
Chassis number 39080 is one of only 118 3.5-litre SS 100s built, and was sold to first owner JMF Hilton in 1938. In 1951, it made its way to Australia with new custodian Frank Lobb, and over the next 10 years the car enjoyed a sporadic competition career Down Under.
After being dismantled in the late 1960s, the SS 100 remained in bits for more than 40 years until being acquired in 2012 by renowned authority John Clucas, who immediately embarked on a painstaking restoration. The end result is recognised as perhaps the finest example in the world, and the project was documented in a book that is now regarded as the ‘bible’ for future SS 100 restorations.
The Concours d’Elégance is the traditional curtain-raiser for Salon Privé week. Presented over three days, awards are judged by an ICJAG jury and invited specialist judges, with a special few awarded by the Duke of Marlborough, Chairman Andrew Bagley, and the guests of Salon Privé.
Friday is Ladies’ Day presented by Boodles, and is the time to see and be seen, with hats of every shape and size dotted all over the lawn. That’s followed on Saturday by the Salon Privé Club Trophy presented by Lockton – the largest club-only event in the UK, featuring the most prestigious single-marque clubs. The finale of Salon Privé Week is Sunday’s Classic and Supercar event, which this year will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the legendary Jaguar E-type.
Last year, the South Lawn hosted 25 Global, European and UK debuts from some of the world’s most famous automotive brands, and that will be continued in 2021. They will be joined by the UK’s most experienced and knowledgeable classic car specialists, plus a brand-new element for this year – Salon Privé TIME, which will showcase the world’s leading watchmakers.
There will also be first-class hospitality and retail therapy courtesy of the most exclusive luxury brands, and all the elements are in place for another unforgettable Salon Privé Week.
Salon Privé Week 2021
1 September – Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance presented by Aviva
2 September – Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance presented by Aviva
3 September – Salon Privé Ladies’ Day presented by Boodles
4 September – Salon Privé Club Trophy presented by Lockton
5 September – Salon Privé Classic & Supercar
Tickets can be purchased via the website www.salonpriveconcours.com or by calling the Ticket Hotline: 0808 100 2205.
Charity Partner
Salon Privé is proud to once again have Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity as its charity partner. The organisation provides emotional and practical support to families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness, and thanks to the generation donations of guests and Concours entrants, the event has so far raised in excess of £1.1 million for these great causes.
