Ferrari Fever as Salon Privé Unveils full Concours Masters line-up Showcase Ferrari’s 70-year history
- Details
- Category: Luxury Auto, Yachts, Jets
- Published on Wednesday, 23 August 2017 19:31
- Written by Janet Walker
The first UK event to host two consecutive Concours competitions, Salon Privé is delighted to announce the full line-up for its Concours Masters 'Tribute to 70 Years of Ferrari' celebration in Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, August 31st through September 2nd.
Paying homage to arguably the world's finest automotive manufacturer, Ferrari, on its 70th anniversary year, Salon Privé has attracted some of the most significant and rarest models from Maranello to the lawns of Blenheim Palace, all of which will be on display throughout Saturday 2nd September.
Highlights for the inaugural Concours Masters 'Tribute to 70 Years of Ferrari' include eight special 250 variants – the company's most successful early model line – as well as rarely-seen prototypes, ex-Formula One racers and some of the most iconic modern 'pin-up' Ferrari supercars.
With over 50 Ferraris confirmed for next month's event, competition will be fierce as owners vie to take home the prized awards, including People's Choice, Owners' Choice and Ladies' Choice.
Next week's inaugural Concours Masters will showcase a timeline of Ferrari's illustrious history, from the previously announced 1949 Ferrari 166 Inter Coupe – the oldest-surviving UK-based Ferrari – to the latest Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, which was built to celebrate the marque's 70th anniversary.
On display is one of the 209 examples of the 2016 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, a car so exclusive that lucky owners had to be invited by Ferrari to purchase. An even more exclusive version of the LaFerrari hypercar, the Aperta has a removable carbon fibre roof with a soft-top.
Although at a glance the two models may look very similar, a myriad of design differences were necessary to make the open-top version as efficient as the coupé, including re-profiling the front wings to accommodate a revised door opening angle. The example at Salon Privé was the first one officially imported into the UK.
With no less than eight 250s confirmed, including the striking 250 Lusso once owned by Steve McQueen and a California Spider, the upcoming Ferrari event is set to be a showstopper. Lusso, meaning Italian for luxury; this 1963 Maronne Brown Ferrari 250 Lusso certainly lives up to its luxury-themed name. Once owned by one of the most important Sixties actors and automotive legends, Steve McQueen, it will travel to join the celebration and take part in the Concours Masters centrepiece.
Other 250-themed highlights include a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti. Often referred to as the 'holy grail', and one of the most beautiful cars to come out of Maranello, the California Spider had the performance to back-up its road presence. With style icons and celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot, James Coburn and Alain Delon all previous owners, it continues to turn heads after almost 60 years. This car is the third-ever chassis of 50 'LWB' models built, and rarer still, is one of 14 LWB California Spiders built during 1958.
Shown for the first time at any event in over 40 years, Concours Masters will host a special 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta. Sold new in Switzerland in 1962, the original owner specified it with features that are unique to this car, including a full-width front bumper, two-tone paint finish and narrower wheels and tyres. After years of obscurity, when it had lost many of the special details, it was found and purchased by its current owner in 2013, who then entrusted it to DK Engineering to carry out a full ground-up restoration to original, period-perfect condition.
Two Competizione, race-prepared and homologated Ferraris are also confirmed to attend, including a 1972Ferrari 365 GTB/4 (Daytona) Competizione. This example, a second series variant, retains the aluminium bonnet, boot lid and doors of earlier cars but features a stronger steel body.
Hugely successful in period, Daytona Competiziones filled the top five positions in their class for the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 1972, and repeated class wins there in 1973 and 1974. One of just 16 officially-sanctioned examples made from the factory, the Daytona Competizione is even rarer than the legendary 250 GTO.
Joining it is one of 50 1995 Ferrari 348 GT Competizione models made. Built to meet homologation regulations, the GT Competizione has a more powerful engine and tuned exhaust system, and is 120 kg lighter than the standard 348 thanks to Kevlar doors, sills and bumpers. It also features F40-style bucket seats, modified brakes, suspension and subframe as well as lightweight Speedline wheels. On display will be car number 41 of 50, one of just eight right-hand-drive examples built – making it one of the rarest 348 Ferraris ever made.
No Ferrari event is complete without a Ferrari F40 – often regarded as the very epitome of a supercar – and Salon Privé has managed to lure a factory prototype out of hiding. This 1987 Ferrari F40 Prototype includes features that eager Ferrari connoisseurs would spot, including different wing mirrors, five vents instead of four, different Kevlar used for the tub and luxury quilted headlining.
Once its test work was completed, this car was gifted to the then Motorsport Director of Ferrari and the F1 Team Manager, Marco Piccinini by Enzo Ferrari himself. Remaining with Piccinini until 2016, when it was purchased by its current owner, this example benefits from being Ferrari Classiche certified and is in original, unmolested condition.
The first event of its kind, the Salon Privé Concours Masters is designed to employ a more relaxed and subjective approach to judging compared to the traditional scrutiny of most Concours events.
The key judging team, comprising of avid Ferrari fans and owners, historians and ex-racers, including Head Judge Derek Bell MBE, alongside Coldplay band member Guy Berryman, supermodel Yasmin Le Bon and Ferrari historians Keith Bluemel, Tony Willis and Marcel Massini. The team of 11 judges will have 25 awards to present on Saturday 2nd September, including the highly-coveted People's Choice, Owners' Choice and Ladies' Choice.
"It's taken over 12 years to nurture relationships with the world's top Ferrari collectors to get to this point; a dedicated Ferrari Concours attracting a global audience, not to mention the first-ever Concours Masters," said Andrew Bagley Salon Privé Managing Director & Concours Chairman. "2017 is set to be a landmark year for Salon Privé, not only with the introduction of Concours Masters – allowing us to be the UK's first event to hold two consecutive Concours competitions – but also to celebrate one of the most special sports car manufacturers, Ferrari, on what will be its 70th anniversary."
A full list of entries is as follows:
The 1940’s – 1950’s
1949 Ferrari 166 Inter, 1952 Ferrari 342 America, 1953 Ferrari 166 MM PF Berlinetta, 1953 Ferrari 250MM, 1953 Ferrari 250 Inter-Europa Vignale Coupe, 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta TdF, 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa, 1957 Ferrari 500 Testarossa Competition TRC, 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta TdF, 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
The 1960’s
1961 Ferrari 250 GTE Series 1, 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe Aerodinamico, 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB, 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, 1964 Ferrari 500 Superfast, 1965 Ferrari 330 GT Series 1, 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS, 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC, 1966 Ferrari 365 California Spider, 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, 1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2.
The 1970’s – 1980’s
1971 Ferrari 246 GT Dino, 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4C Daytona, 1974 Ferrari 246 GTS, 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer, 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB
1985 Ferrari 288 GTO, 1987 Ferrari F40 Prototype
The 1990’s
1990 Ferrari F40 Michelotto, 1990 Ferrari F40 GT, 1991 Ferrari 642 F1, 1994 Ferrari 348 Challenge, 1995 Ferrari 348 GT Competizione, 1996 Ferrari F50, 1996 Ferrari F355 Challenge, 1997 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, 1997 Ferrari 355 Spider
From 2000 through 2017
2002 Ferrari 360 Spider, 2002 Ferrari 550 Maranello, 2002 Ferrari 360 Challenge, 2004 Ferrari 575 GTC, 2004 Ferrari Enzo, 2005 Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale, 2007 Ferrari 612 Sessanta, 2008 Ferrari 430 Scuderia, 2008 Ferrari F430 Challenge, 2011 Ferrari 458 Challenge, 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale 'Tailor Made,’ 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari, 2016 Ferrari FF, 2016 Ferrari F12 TDF, 2016 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, 2017 Ferrari F12 70th Edition
Further information on the upcoming Concours Masters and Chubb Insurance Concours d'Elégance events can be found here. Tickets for Salon Privé 2017 are on sale now
Keep up-to-date with Salon Privé:
Twitter: @SalonPriveUK
Facebook: /SalonPriveUK
Instagram: @SalonPriveUK
About Salon Privé:
Now in its 12th year, Salon Privé is firmly established as the UK's most prestigious luxury Classic and Supercar Show & Concours d'Élégance. It returns to the opulent grounds of Blenheim Palace for the third year running in 2017 from Thursday 31st August to Saturday 2nd September.
The three-day event incorporates the Chubb Insurance Concours d'Elégance, Boodles Ladies' Day and the all-new for 2017 Concours Masters, focusing on a 'Tribute to 70 Years of Ferrari' , as well as the EFG Art and Memorabilia Fair and The Salon Privé Sale hosted by Silverstone Auctions. Salon Privé takes pride of place amongst the leading automotive shows of the world, including America's Amelia Island Concours, Pebble Beach Concours and Italy's Villa d'Este.-