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Rolling Bones hot rods rumble into Salon Privé

Words: Elliott Hughes | Photography: Salon Privé

The Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop is set to bring an anarchic brand of Americana to the regal lawns of Blenheim Palace for this year’s Salon Privé on September 1-5, 2021.

Based in the agrarian surroundings of an old cow barn in upstate New York, the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop was founded by Ken Schmidt and Keith Cornell in 1998 after they met in a chance encounter at a local car show.

Keith and Ken’s Hot Rod Shop will be represented at Salon Privé by five of the duo’s finest bespoke hot rods. While each Rolling Bones creation is totally unique, they all share the same underlying ethos; a Ford badge, vintage parts and “raw, pure and built to be used”. Adherence to this is evident in the tyre tracks left by Rolling Bones hot rods in the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats.

An unwavering commitment to authenticity and the celebration of patina means Rolling Bones hot rods “look like they came right out of a 1950s hot rod magazine and have spent the decades since in storage”. The resulting raw, rebellious and honest aesthetic has earned Rolling Bones’ creations a devout following among hot rod devotees.

“Built in small numbers, Rolling Bones hot rods are superbly engineered works of art, and will proudly take their place on the lawns of Blenheim Palace,” said Salon Privé concours chairman Andrew Bagley. “They’re noisy, they’re brash and I can’t wait to see them parading through Woodstock during Salon Privé Live. Bringing a group of them together will be a fabulous sight, and hearing them run will really capture everyone’s imagination.”

In addition to the alluring prospect of Rolling Bones hot rods, Salon Privé will also host several UK, European and US car debuts, as well as offering luxurious hospitality and retail opportunities. A new luxury-lifestyle addition to this year’s show is Salon Privé Time, which will showcase the world’s leading watchmakers.

Salon Privé’s 16th edition will get underway on Wednesday, September 1, with its prestigious Concours d’Elegance. The concours display has been curated to welcome more than 100 of the world’s finest cars over nine different classes. Salon Privé’s finale will take place on the Sunday, with the Classic and Supercar event, which will be open publicly to thousands of visitors.

For more information and to purchase tickets to this year’s Salon Privé, click here.

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