The Salon Privé concours will play host to many important Rolls-Royce cars as the brand celebrates its 120th anniversary
In tribute to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ 120th anniversary this year, Salon Privé has gathered an eclectic set of the company’s most significant cars of the 20th Century, which will be displayed on the lawns of Blenheim Palace next month for the Salon Privé Concours on 28-29 August.
The seven-strong lineup of historic models from Rolls-Royce includes a 1911 40/50hp that achieved a top speed of 101mph at Brooklands and was the model that The Autocar (as it was then known) called “the best car in the world”, forever associating the brand with that statement.
Other highlights of the display will include a 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental by Freestone & Webb (pictured), which was originally ordered by cotton Magnate and Conservative MP for Clapham, Sir John Leigh. According to its build sheet, chassis 42PY was ‘for use in the UK and Continent, mainly fast touring’, and its specification certainly supported that, with a lower rear axle ratio, stiffer road springs, a six-inch shorter wheelbase and three-inch lower exhaust.
These two significant examples also join a 1965 Phantom V by HJ Mulliner Park Ward, as well as a 1988 Silver Spirit with the extremely rare Hooper & Co two-door bodywork, a conversion that doubled the price of the already extremely expensive Spirit. On this eclectic anniversary display, Andrew Bagley, Concours Chairman of Salon Privé said “Salon Privé was determined to mark the anniversary in style and bring together a group of cars and owners from across the globe that symbolised the passion, style and extravagance of this legendary brand.”
