Salon Privé returned to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire from August 27-31, 2025 for its 20th anniversary, blending automotive passion in its many forms with a garden-party atmosphere. Despite some poor weather, the five days showed just why this event is so popular – with individual days that appealed to all facets of the UK’s motoring spectrum.
The quality of the cars on the showfield continues to improve, with the specific concours spread over Wednesday and Thursday. The Auriga Collection’s 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Spezial Roadster took home Best in Show, while Anne Brockinton Lee’s 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica ‘Super Fast’ Prototype bagged the People’s Choice and the Ferrari – The Prancing Horse awards, as well as being declared overall runner-up. You can see a full list of winners in our dedicated report, which can be found here.
While the concours element and its special cars is the key driver behind the event, this year’s Salon Privé expanded significantly in both scope and inventive flair. Not only were there two driving tours, boat and helicopter demonstrations plus an Emerald Celebration of green cars to celebrate its 20th year, there were also displays of Ferrari 250 GTOs and McLaren F1s. There was plenty more to enjoy as well.
This year saw the introduction of The Automotive Gallery, home to 45 cars from manufacturers, specialist restomod companies and dealers. Highlights included a rare sighting of the McLaren W1, Clive Sutton’s new-build Mustang GT500CS and the Chevrolet Corvette Advanced Design Studio produced under the Julian Thomson-headed GM UK design team.
There was also Thornley-Kelham’s Jaguar XK European GT Roadster, a run of 25 drop-tops following in the wheel tracks of last year’s European GT coupé with a 360bhp rebuilt straight-six and a reshaped body styled by Paul Howse. Jimmy Carr’s electrified Aston Martin DB6 also made its debut courtesy of Electrogenic, and RML introduced the first production GT Hypercar, including a 40th Anniversary Special Edition, of which ten SEs will be built out of 39 GT-Hs overall. To top things off, CALLUM showed off its Skye concept.
Friday was Salon Privé Ladies’ Day by Boodles, and alongside the glamour of the Boodles Best Hat Competition there was a display of Bugatti Veyrons in celebration of the car’s 20th anniversary, plus a line-up of supercars courtesy of the Five Zeros Supercar Barn and the Apollo Capital Hypercar Collective.
Supercar Saturday saw more than 1000 cars from the UK’s leading clubs take over Blenheim Palace’s North Lawn. Highlights included a record gathering from the De Tomaso Drivers Club alongside displays from the Aston Martin Owners Club and Porsche Club Great Britain. The Club Trophy, presented by Lockton, went to a 1933 Invicta S Type of the Invicta Car Club.
On Sunday, the North Lawns were filled with 18 multi-marque supercar lifestyle clubs and four single-marque clubs. The Supercar and Lifestyle Club Trophies went to a TVR Sagaris from the Drivers Union and a Jaguar XJS from the XJS Club. On the South Lawn, guests saw a colourful SCC supercar parade with 78 cars, including a Volcano Orange Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren HDK. The Concours de Vente, where every car entered was up for sale, was judged by a panel led by Richard Hammond. The Prix d’Honneur awarded to Eric Broutin’s De Tomaso Pantera Group 4.
For more on Salon Privé 2025, head here.
