Porsche’s 70th Anniversary Celebrated in Style at the 2018 Salon Privé

Setting its place in classic car history, Salon Privé was once again the first and only event of its kind to run two completely separate Concours celebrations within the same event. Taking place on Saturday 1^st September – two days after the long-standing and revered Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance – the Concours Masters event played tribute to Porsche’s 70^th anniversary year, honoured in great style at the 2018 edition of Salon Privé.

Over 40 examples of the Stuttgart performance car maker’s finest lined up on the prestigious lawns of Blenheim Palace last Saturday, all vying for honours during the hotly-anticipated Concours Masters, created to add an exciting dimension to the Salon Privé celebrations, with each year focusing on the anniversary of a historic automotive marque or a particular coachbuilder.

A more relaxed version of a traditionally-judged Concours, the overall Owner’s Choice Award for the Concours Masters Celebration of 70 Years of Porsche was presented to a 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo Cup (above) – one of just 150 examples built – with an ultra-rare 1956 356A Carrera GS Coupe (below) taking the Owner’s Choice Runner’s Up prize.

Meanwhile, the Ladies’ Choice from Saturday’s event was a stylish black 1957 Porsche 365A Carrera Speedster, the last of four-right-hand drive Speedsters of this type made, this rare 356 also taking the Best Engine and Best Open Car awards. Salon Privé Managing Director and Concours Chairman, Andrew Bagley, presented an immaculate 1968 Porsche 912 Coupe with the Chairman’s Award during Saturday’s celebrations, with other top-tier award winners included the People’s Choice trophy given to a rapid 2018 Porsche 911 (991.2) GT2 RS.

“Making our place in Concours history by realising a dream that we had many years ago to hold two Concours during one event, this year’s Concours Masters event paid tribute to one of the most important and loved sports car manufacturers in the world – Porsche. I am indebted to the wonderful owners of these magnificent Porsches and, most importantly, the Marlborough family and Blenheim Palace for helping make the event such a success,” said Salon Privé Managing Director and Concours Chairman, Andrew Bagley.

2018 Concours Masters Celebration of 70 Years of Porsche results:

Staged in association with Pirelli, Lockton Private Clients and Chubb Insurance, Concours Masters 70 Years of Porsche celebration proved to be a thrilling event for Porsche owners and enthusiasts alike.

Annmarie Camp, Head of Chubb Personal Risk Services, Europe, said: ‘’Salon Privé remains one of the most important events in our calendar and enables us to deliver a truly memorable experience for our clients and broker partners. We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of the Concours Masters, as well as the Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance. Congratulations to all those who presented their cars for the 70^th anniversary tribute to Porsche. We share every owners passion for the preservation and protection of these classic motor cars.’’

Dominic Sandivasci, Pirelli UK Chairman & CEO, said:“We’re delighted to extend our relationship with Salon Privé as it stands for the same values that we do: performance, style, technology and exclusivity. Blenheim Palace forms an amazing backdrop to a truly astonishing collection of cars, which tell the story of prestige automotive culture from classics to the present day.”

Rachel Gilliam, Partner & Head of Private Clients at Lockton said:“Salon Privé is an event we look forward to every year and it’s been wonderful to have been involved in its journey through the years. This year the weather has been fantastic and we’ve had a great time with our clients surrounded by some of the best cars in the world in such a stunning location. We’re delighted to have been this year’s bronze sponsor and to have been involved in such an elegant and prestigious event. We look forward to 2019!”

The theme for the 2019 Concours Masters at Salon Privé is confirmed as the British luxury car-maker Bentley. Celebrating 100 years of this wonderful British marque, the world’s top Bentley collectors will converge on the lawns of Blenheim Palace to assemble an incredible timeline, paying homage to the marque founded as Bentley Motors Limited by W. O. Bentley back in 1919 in Cricklewood, North London.