SALON PRIVÉ PAYS TRIBUTE TO 60 YEARS OF SHORT WHEELBASE STYLE, ELEGANCE & EXCITEMENT; THE FERRARI 250 GT SWB BERLINETTA

SALON PRIVÉ PAYS TRIBUTE TO 60 YEARS OF SHORT WHEELBASE STYLE, ELEGANCE & EXCITEMENT; THE FERRARI 250 GT SWB BERLINETTA

 One of the Concours Classes at the much-anticipated 14th edition of Salon Privé (5th to 8th September) will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the highly-acclaimed and admired Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta.

First previewed in late 1959 at the Paris Salon, with small-scale production commencing in 1960, the short-wheelbase Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta dominated GT racing in the early 1960s. The SWB proved to be unbeatable in contemporary GT class competition, claiming the 1961 Constructor's Championship for Ferrari. The Ferrari 250 SWB also won the prestigious Tour de France Automobile endurance race in 1960, 1961 and 1962, before moving aside to make way for the Maranello marque’s equally successful, and now legendary, 250 GTO.

Developed by Ferrari’s gifted ‘dream team’ of engineers – Giotto Bizzarrini and Carlo Chiti – the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB sat on a truncated 2,400 mm (94.5 in) chassis, taken from the ‘regular’ 250 for even better handling. This shorter chassis was mated to the fabled Colombo 3-litre V12 engine, developing a healthy 237 to 276 bhp and wrapped in a brutal but beautiful Pininfarina-designed coupe body. The SWB’s coachwork was handcrafted by Scaglietti in both steel and aluminium, with both body types used in various road ‘Lusso’ and racing trims.

Just 176 examples of the stunning Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB were built, 8 examples of which have been entered into the world-renowned Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance by Chubb Insurance, now one of the top 3 global Concours events alongside Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and Pebble Beach Concours.

The first of the two Ferrari 250 GT SWBs entered, chassis 3037, was the sixth right hand drive example imported by Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. It was supplied new in October 1961, finished in Rosso Corsa (Racing Red) with a black leather interior, and some competition features like the racing seats and outside quick release fuel filler cap. It was displayed at the 1961 London Motor Show at Earls Court that month, and then repainted metallic grey before being used by the company principal, Colonel Hoare as his road car and demonstrator on UK registration number PR 99. In early 1962 it was repainted once more, this time in blue, before being offered for sale. It has spent most of its life with UK owners, apart from brief periods in Europe and the USA, and was returned to its original Rosso Corsa colour scheme some years ago, and retains this to this day.

The second car, Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione, chassis 2009, was ordered new through Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. in England for Mr Graham Whitehead; a relatively well-known privateer racing driver of the period.  After many podium finishes in the ‘60s, and after several new owners, chassis 2009 was eventually sent to Ferrari Classiche in 2015 for a comprehensive restoration where the Ferrari Classiche Certification was granted.  Since the restoration the car has been exhibited at Ferrari’s 70th Anniversary Celebration at Maranello where it won “Honorary Jury Special Award” and most recently at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

Commenting on the 8-strong line up of 250 GT SWBs entered into this year’s Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance by Chubb Insurance, Salon Privé’s Chairman Andrew Bagley said: “The inclusion of notable Ferraris are a must for any world-class Concours d’Elégance such as Salon Privé, and to have 8 significant models of the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB is a real honour and highlights the global reputation and status of our spectacular and exclusive celebrations at Blenheim Palace.”

For more information about tickets, please visit the website: https://www.salonpriveconcours.com/buy-tickets/

PAGANI TO CELEBRATE ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN RECORD STYLE AT THE 2019 GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED

PAGANI TO CELEBRATE ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN RECORD STYLE AT THE 2019 GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED

Pagani Zonda at FoS - Harry Elliott Photography

Later this week Pagani UK will celebrate the 20th anniversary since Horacio Pagani founded Pagani Automobili S.p.A. in grand style at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed (4-7 July).

Pagani’s exclusive official British agent, Pagani UK Ltd, will be gathering a record number of Pagani Zonda and Huayra models together at Goodwood – the largest collection ever seen in Great Britain, with cars and owners coming from as far afield as New Zealand, the USA and Hong Kong specifically for the occasion  – with Company founder Horacio Pagani also on hand, plus almost 30 examples of his exceptional hypercars, with a combined value of around £100million+.

An attention-grabbing convoy of Paganis will head down to Goodwood from London on the morning of Thursday 4 July, with a record 20 Zonda hypercars then heading up the Festival of Speed Hillclimb around 3pm that day; one car to mark each year since the first Pagani Zonda was introduced to huge acclaim in 1999.

Five of the most significant Zonda models will then be on static display for all to admire, located outside of the Goodwood Club’s exclusive GRRC Kinrara enclosure. These five Zondas will include the very first Zonda built, the famous Chassis #1 C25 of 1999, plus a 2005 Zonda F, 2009 Zonda Cinque, 2010 Zonda Tricolore and 2018 Zonda Roadster, one of just three sell-out models made, and the world’s most expensive new car at launch at £15million, and now appreciating! 

In addition, a Zonda R that has recently been subject to the extensive 'Pagani Rinascimento' programme to restore and upgrade older Pagani models, will be in action twice a day, tackling the Goodwood Hillclimb as part of the Supercar Run, with the car usually to be seen in the re-located Supercar Paddock. A sell-out Pagani Huayra Roadster will also be on display at the Kinrara enclosure. Pagani will also have a retail facility (Stand No. 127) with special 20th-anniversary merchandise as part of the Festival’s extensive exhibition zone, located near the Goodwood Cricket Pitch area.

On Friday evening, Pagani UK will be staging a very exclusive 20th-anniversary‘ birthday party’ not far away from Goodwood on the West Sussex coast, with fireworks and few surprises in store for the lucky guests as a fitting celebration of the Modena marque’s first 20 years.

Commenting on its notable 20th anniversary presence at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Christine Clarkin, Pagani UK’s Dealer Principal said, “We were really delighted to be so involved with the Goodwood Festival of Speed once again in such a high-profile way, and I can’t wait to see 20 Paganis parading up the Goodwood Hill on Thursday afternoon as one of the many amazing attractions at this world-leading, must-attend event. She added “I also can’t wait for what promises to be a very special and memorable 20th-anniversary birthday party for our clients and friends on Friday evening. It will be great, and the icing on the cake of the truly excellent weekend at Goodwood”

SALON PRIVÉ & BENTLEY DRIVERS CLUB TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF BENTLEY MOTORS IN SPECTACULAR STYLE AT BLENHEIM PALACE

SALON PRIVÉ & BENTLEY DRIVERS CLUB TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF BENTLEY MOTORS IN SPECTACULAR STYLE AT BLENHEIM PALACE

Bentley Display at Blenheim Palace - courtesy BDC

Salon Privé (5th to 8th September) will this year dedicate two days (Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September) to celebrating the centenary of one of Britain’s most revered and prestigious motor car marques; Bentley Motors, founded in 1919 by the gifted engineer W.O. Bentley. The two-day celebration of 100 years of Bentley Motors at Salon Privé will consist of Bentley Masters on Saturday and Bentley Drivers Club Concours d’Elegance alongside Salon Privé Classic & Supercar on Sunday.

On Saturday 7th September, the third running of the Masters Series at Salon Privé will be devoted to Bentley Motors, marking the 100th anniversary of this iconic British automotive marque. Although there will be a competitive element to the day, first and foremost it will be a celebration with an enviable display of 50 Bentleys from the earliest through to the very latest models. Together, they will bring to life the story of how the marque evolved to become one of the most admired luxury vehicle makers in the world today.

These 50 Bentley Masters motor cars will be judged on the Saturday by a panel carefully selected for their knowledge and expertise of the Bentley marque, combined with those who have a passion and life-long interest in these special cars. Salon Privé takes a relaxed and celebratory approach to the judging, rather than the close scrutiny of a traditional Concours event. Trophies will be awarded during the day, with the much-coveted Owners’ Choice presented at the Saturday evening Gala Dinner within the sumptuous surroundings of Blenheim Palace.

Salon Privé’s Co-Founder and Sales Director, David Bagley commented: “It’s a real honour for us to have been selected as the host event for Bentley’s Centenary this year and we are planning a spectacular weekend of celebrations at Blenheim Palace. On Saturday 7th September on the South Lawn, we present Bentley Masters at Salon Privé with an eye-watering display of 50 of the rarest and most exceptional models from around the world - already, entries have been received from France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, South Africa and The Netherlands. Then, on Sunday 8thSeptember, Bentley Drivers Club join us for their annual Concours d’Elegance and together, we will attempt to gather a record 1,001 Bentley together at one event. Stretching across the North Lawns, it will be the ultimate tribute for this iconic British marque.”

On Sunday 8th September, the Bentley Drivers Club (BDC) Concours d'Elegance will merge with the newly launched Salon Privé Classic & Supercar and with an expected record gathering of no less than 1,001 Bentleys from across the globe taking centre stage, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed!

Lucky owners of exceptional Bentley models are invited and encouraged to consider entering their motor cars for both days of Salon Privé’s Bentley centenary celebration weekend. Models already submitted for entry to the whole weekend include a noteworthy 1929 Speed Six Gurney Nutting Weymann Saloon, one of just 182 Speed Six models built, a 1938 Sports Saloon by Park Ward and a 1950 Mk VI Drophead Foursome Coupeby E.D.Abbott, one of just 16 ever built.

Sunday 8th September will see the largest ever annual Bentley Drivers Club (BDC) Concours d’Elegance taking place as an integral part of the Salon Privé Classic & Supercar event at Blenheim Palace, with 18 prestigious trophies to be awarded, including Concours, Patina and the Inter-Regional Team Challenge awards. A special exhibition of significant Bentley cars from every decade will showcase 100 years of the marque; this will include the earliest surviving Bentley, EXP2, and a number of fascinating cars such as a striking-looking Continental GT Zagato, one of only nine made, and a unique Continental GT S Convertible ‘art car’ boldly decorated by the creative brush of celebrated artist Sir Peter Blake.

Bentley Drivers Club Chairman Ron Warmington said: “Our Concours d’Elegance will be a unique occasion and we would be delighted to mark Bentley Motors’ centenary by setting a new world record for the largest ever gathering of Bentleys in one place. Do come along – we guarantee you’ll have a wonderful day.”