Salon Privé 2025 deserved a special concours winner for its 20th anniversary event, and that’s just what happened – the Auriga Collection’s 1946 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen emerged the winner out of 60 cars.
The 500 K came from the Pre-War Open Class; it also won the Most Exceptional Coachwork Award. Chassis no. 123763, one of just 12 built, was originally ordered by Prince Pavel Aleksandrovich Chavchavadze at the Paris Auto Salon in 1935, before scooping the Grand Prix d’Honneur at the Cannes Concours d’Elegance in 1936. Lothar Motschenbacher extensively restored the car in the late 1990s, and it won its class at the 1997 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. With only three owners since new, it’s been with the current custodians since 1993. Salon Privé 2025 marked the first time it had been seen in public since ’97.
The event drew entries from 13 countries across 12 classes, with Anne Brockinton Lee’s 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupé ‘SuperFast’ Prototype by Pinin Farina taking home the People’s Choice and the Ferrari – The Prancing Horse Awards, and being declared overall runner-up. One of four special-bodied Superamerica ‘SuperFast’ prototypes and the only one bodied by Pinin Farina, it was originally shown at the Paris Salon before being sold to William Doheny in Los Angeles. It was then acquired by actor Jackie Cooper for a time, before passing through several American owners. In 1980 it was in the UK in the possession of Peter Agg, although it returned to the US in 1984.
The car later formed part of the Greg Garrison Collection, and from there it was acquired by the Brockinton Lee Collection. It was the first car restored by Anne Brockinton Lee following her husband Robert M Lee’s passing, and over the past few years it has been seen at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Cavallino Classic and ModaMiami.
Among the special awards, the Duke of Marlborough Award went to Yohan Poonawalla’s James Young-bodied 1949 Rolls-Royce Wraith Drophead Foursome Coupé, while the Chairman’s Award went to Lord Bamford’s 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Spyder. The Most Iconic – George Barry Gregory Trophy was awarded to the spectacular 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL Works Development Car E9/R1, while the Preservation Award went to Dr Michael Grebe’s 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster.
In the Most Elegant class, Daniel Sielecki took home the prize with his Vignale-bodied 1952 Ferrari 225 S Berlinetta, while Urs Barmettler’s 1956 Facel Vega FV2B scored the award for Best Interior. Nishant Dossa’s 1939 Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupé was declared the Most Opulent, and the Spirit Award – The Margaret Bagley Trophy was won by Marc Walter’s 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet.
In the class awards, the Auriga Collection took home another prize for the Touring-bodied 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza (top right), while the Pre-War American Classics section was won by Tom Maoli’s LeGrande-bodied 1933 Duesenberg SJ Dual Cowl Phaeton (bottom right). A Gurney Nutting-bodied Delage D8 S Sedanca Coupé (bottom left) netted owner Marc Vogel the Elegance, Grace & Luxury prize, while the Bentley Motors Heritage Collection (top left) took home the HJ Mulliner Coachbuilding Class.
Phil Kenworthy took home the Wind In Your Hair class with his 1964 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 OTS (bottom left), while Steve Evans scooped the British GTs – From London to Lugano class with his 1969 E-type Series II 2+2 Coupé (top right). The European GTs – From Paris to Palermo class was won by Vin Di Bona’s 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Coupé (bottom right), and Mitch McCullough was victorious in the Sports Racers class with his 1964 Alpine M64.
One of the most popular classes was Ferrari Race Cars from the 1950s, which was won by the Vignale-bodied 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta owned by Santiago Martinez (bottom left). There was more Maranello joy to be had in the Supercar Pin-ups of the ’80s and ’90s class, with Paul Hogarth taking the win home in his 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO (top left). Coup de Cœur – The Matt Pearce Trophy was won by Dyfrig Griffith’s 1992 Ferrari 512TR (top right). The excitement was too much for some (bottom right).
Salon Privé 2025 also saw the introduction of new initiatives: there were two new driving tours and the introduction of The Salon Privé Gallery, which housed dealer cars, new launches and restomods. These attached to lounges for Boodles and Qatar Executives, and formed the VIP dining areas. As well as providing useful respite from that perennial of the British summer – rain – it was a good-looking showcase.
Among the cars making their debuts was Thornley Kelham’s Jaguar XK European GT Roadster, designed by Paul Howse and featuring an extensively reworked 360bhp XK engine, a lighter body and chassis, suspension and braking upgrades (top right). The event also hosted the introduction of the RML GTH 40th Anniversary Special Edition (bottom right) and there was a chance to take in Chevrolet Europe’s Corvette concept. Other introductions included Jimmy Carr’s Electrogenic Aston Martin DB6, while CALLUM showcased its SKYE concept, Wood and Pickett MINI and the road-enabled C-X75. Lamborghini, McLaren, Bentley and Aston Martin were also on hand with their latest wares.
Elsewhere, lined up to celebrate Salon Privé’s 20th – emerald – anniversary, there was a scintillating selection of green machines in a variety of shades, and across the genres and decades. In all, the quality of the cars was very high throughout. With good food options and a genial atmosphere, this is an event that continues to improve each year. Here are a couple more of our favourite cars…
This Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Zagato Coupé is one of two ‘Double Bubble’ low-nose cars built at the end of the 1956 production year. First shown at the 1956 Geneva Auto Show, the Alfa was sold straight off the stand to a Swiss owner. It has been with the current keepers since 1994, having spent time in Japan as part of the Hayashi Collection. Fully restored in the 1990s, it been on display at Pebble Beach, Villa d’Este, Goodwood and the very first concours event in Kuwait.
This Pegaso Z-102, the 15th chassis built, is one of only 11 to wear ENASA Berlinetta bodywork. It is the number 54 car entered in the 1952 Monaco Grand Prix, but it did not race due to braking issues. More recently it was thoroughly refreshed by RM Restorations over a period of three years. It was then shown at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2023, exactly as it last appeared in 1952.
Salon Privé 2025 results
Best in Show: 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen (Auriga Collection). Also won Most Exceptional Coachwork and Pre-War Open.
People’s Choice: 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupé ‘SuperFast’ Prototype by Pinin Farina (Anne Brockinton Lee). Also won Ferrari – The Prancing Horse.
Duke of Marlborough Award: 1949 Rolls-Royce Wraith Drophead Foursome Coupé by James Young (Yohan Poonawalla).
Chairman’s Award: 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Spyder by Scaglietti (Lord Bamford).
Most Iconic – The George Barry Gregory Trophy: 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL Works Development Car E9/R1 (Private Collector).
Preservation Award: 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (Dr Michael Grebe).
Most Elegant: 1952 Ferrari 225 S Berlinetta by Vignale (Daniel Sielecki).
Best Interior: 1956 Facel Vega FV2B (Urs Barmettler).
Coup de Cœur – The Matt Pearce Trophy: 1992 Ferrari 512 TR by Pininfarina (Dyfrig Griffith).
Most Opulent: 1939 Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupé (Nishant Dossa).
Spirit Award – The Margaret Bagley Trophy: 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet (Marc Walter).
Class Awards
Pre-War Sports: Winner: 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza by Carrozzeria Touring (Auriga Collection).
Pre-war American Classics: 1933 Duesenberg SJ Dual Cowl Phaeton by LaGrande (Tom Maoli).
Elegance, Grace & Luxury: Delage D8 S Sedanca Coupé by Gurney Nutting (Marc Vogel).
HJ Mulliner Coachbuilding: 1953 Bentley R-type Continental by HJ Mulliner (Bentley Motors Heritage Collection).
Wind in Your Hair: 1964 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 OTS (Phil Kenworthy).
British GTs – From London to Lugano: 1969 Jaguar E-type Series II 2+2 Coupé (Steve Evans).
European GTs – From Paris to Palermo: 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Coupé (Vin Di Bona).
Sports Racers: 1964 Alpine M64 (Mitch McCullough).
Ferrari Race Cars from the 1950s: 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta by Vignale (Santiago Martinez).
Supercar Pin-ups of the ’80s and ’90s: 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO by Pininfarina (Paul Hogarth).
For more information on Salon Privé 2025, head here.
