First dealers and entries announced
Concours de Vente is a central highlight of Salon Privé London at Royal Hospital Chelsea
75 of the world’s finest collector cars will be on display and each one will be for sale
Early highlights include a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C, a 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Vignale, a 1970 Porsche 914/6 GT and a 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda
Second edition of Salon Privé London is held on 20-22 April 2023
Entries are building fast for the famous Salon Privé London Concours de Vente collector car spectacle. From 20-22 April, 75 of the world’s most iconic classic cars will be on display in the central area of Royal Hospital Chelsea – and in complete contrast to other concours events, every one of them will be for sale!
In a break from tradition, the Salon Privé London Concours de Vente is designed solely for dealers to showcase cars that can actually be bought, rather than the private and firmly not for sale cars that feature at Salon Privé Blenheim. Presented on the pristine lawns of Royal Hospital Chelsea, the cars are also driven each day in a parade that allows guests to fully appreciate them in all their glory… and then consider purchasing them.
The event is limited to 75 cars. Entries are split into the following ‘classes’, as denoted by their value: Class 1 is up to £250,000, Class 2 is between £250,000 and £1 million, and Class 3 is for cars over £1 million. At the end of the event, Salon Privé London awards the Best in Class and the ultimate prize of Prix d’Honneur for the best car at the show. Royal Hospital Chelsea also presents the Chelsea Pensioners’ Choice Award.
At the 2023 Salon Privé London Concours de Vente, London’s Joe Macari will show a stunning Ferrari 275 GTB/6C, an original 1966 UK long-nose car. The 275 was the final Pininfarina design to be supervised by Pinin himself, and was the first road car to feature independent rear suspension with double wishbones and coil springs – a setup inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning 250 LM racer. This storied model has a vast history file and is highly collectable: it is one of just six right-hand drive six-carburettor alloy-bodied 275 GTBs, and one of just two delivered new to the UK. Joe Macari calls it surely one of the best examples of the 275 GTB ever produced.
Aston Workshop will be featuring a similarly rare 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Vignale, which has bespoke body styling and a unique interior specification. It was originally commissioned by King Baudouin of Belgium, and has recently been fully restored by Aston Workshop. The DB2 was the first Aston Martin to wear new owner David Brown’s initials; this later DB2/4 had +2 seating and enhanced performance. Only 1,200 DB2s were built – and just 12 left-hand drive DB2/4 rolling chassis were delivered to period Italian and Swiss coachbuilders. Of these 12, Vignale of Turin received two: this car is the sole surviving example. Like all Concours de Vente cars, it can be bought at Salon Privé London; it’s on sale for £3.65 million.
Export 56 will be showcasing a Porsche 914/6 GT competition car that’s one of the earliest Porsche ‘Factory Werks’ test cars. Built in late 1970, the left-hand drive Signal Orange machine is a genuine matching numbers car certified as first owned by Porsche AG. As the name suggests, it boasts a flat-six engine, and is one of 12 special 914/6 GTs built for the factory racing department – which included three Rally Monte Carlo cars. Throughout its life, this car has had just three owners from new, and was accurately resorted back to factory GT specification in 2012. It is track-prepared, comes with all the necessary FIA papers, and is eligible for the most prestigious events in the world. Realise your classic racing dreams at Salon Privé London 2023.
Howard Wise Cars has a delightful and attainable 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda to showcase at the 2023 Concours de Vente. A right-hand drive car with low mileage, it’s had just one family owner since new, and is unrestored, with the original seats and interior wooden features. Driving it in London will be painless, thanks to an automatic transmission and power steering. Boasting a full history file, it’s a genuine time-warp vehicle – and has never before been advertised for sale. It could be yours at the Salon Privé London Concours de Vente for £199,995.
Confirming the unique appeal of Concours de Vente, Salon Privé London is attracting a rich gathering of specialist dealers from throughout the classic car industry. Ferrari specialist Barkaways, the passionate team at Car Iconics, Aston Martin specialist RS Williams plus classic and competition car experts Simon Drabble will all be there. You can view dream cars from online platform Collecting Cars, characterful retro machines from Classic Motor Hub, and legendary brands from Furlonger Specialist Sports Cars. And be it historic collector cars from Graeme Hunt, supercars from Hendon Way Motors or luxury cars from Hilton & Moss, the Salon Privé London Concours de Vente has it all.
Salon Privé London is one of the world’s most prestigious automotive events and the sister event to the globally renowned Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace which is now in its 18th year.
Set to be the capital’s most exclusive automotive party, Salon Privé London offers plenty to see and do in addition to the motoring attractions. There will be a luxury shopping village featuring brands such as high-end British Jewellery designer Boodles, and watches from famed luxury brand, Montblanc. Food and hospitality will also be first class, in the famed Salon Privé tradition, with a three-course luncheon, delicious Pommery Champagne, cocktails from the London Essence Co and fine wines from Chateau La Gordonne.
Further highlights include Friday’s Boodles Ladies’ Day, fun for all the family during Saturday at Salon Privé, plus exclusive VIP hospitality at The Sloane and DJs keeping the party going well into the evening on Thursday and Friday.
Organisers are still welcoming entries for the Concours de Vente, too: the deadline is 31 March and interested dealers are advised to contact Nick Wilkes on nickw@salonpriveconcours.com. He’s on + 44 (0) 7795 213 361.
