Unrivalled line up prepares for 2015 Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance
- One of the top three global Concours events
- Outstanding selection of entrants enlisted to date
- Historic Italian racers among early entrants
The growing list of outstanding vehicles for the 2015 Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance promises to make this the best year yet in a decade of competition.
Attracting the iconic as well as the ultra rare, the roster of entries appeals to the enthusiast as well as the connoisseur. Held on Thursday 3rd September, the Concours is a sociable, glamour-packed occasion where collectors and friends meet to indulge their automotive passion.
From thoroughbreds through to barn-finds, the internationally renowned event has a history in bringing some amazing cars out of hiding, and this year looks no different.
Held on the first day of Salon Privé the Concours is a celebration of automotive art and, with ten classes to mark the 10th anniversary of Salon Privé, the Concours includes the best of the classic car and motorcycle world. For the first time, the competition will be set against the stunning baroque backdrop of Blenheim Palace and its grounds.
“The Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance is renowned around the world for its impressive line-up of classics each year,” commented Salon Privé Concours Chairman, Andrew Bagley.
“Last year set a very high standard, but this year’s entrants threaten to beat that. There’s still time, though, and we’re working on more amazing entries. ”
Two of the early entries to the prestigious competition include:
Cisitalia 202 SMM Nuvolari Spider
By Carrozzeria Garella, Owner Jan De Reu, Class - Wind in your Hair
As one of the stand-out cars of the immediate post-war period, the Cisitalia 202 SMM Nuvolari Spider is forever linked with the 1947 Mille Miglia. This sister car to the race winning 202 Spyder, driven by Tazio Nuvolari, was entered by the factory team and campaigned by Eugenio Minetti, with Piero Facetti alongside, to 4th overall in the legendary race.
As the only steel prototype Spyder, this car is noticeably different to its siblings, and following the race returned to the factory for a fresh engine before being sold to a US-based owner. It changed hands a number of times before returning to Europe and has driven in several Mille Miglia Retrospectives. As such, it has achieved the distinction of racing in period and celebrating the great road race in the modern era.
Goldmanini - Motto
By Carrozzeria Motto, Class - Wind in your Hair
Originally conceived as an ultra-lightweight racing special, the unique barchetta’s chassis and bodywork were provided by Carrozzeria Motto of Turin – known for its lightweight aluminium bodies. It was then shipped to the USA, equipped with a 1100 Fiat 4-Cylinder engine and christened by its owner, Max Goldman of Michigan, as the Goldmanini.
As a one off, the car was an evolution of lightweight racing cars based around MG TDs of the 1950s, yet it featured a far more muscular shape than the previous cars. The car proved so pretty that it attracted the admiration Karl Ludvigsen, who stopped to photograph it on a forecourt.
It never delivered on its potential as a serious SCCA class G competitor and, after languishing for a number of years in disrepair, it was rescued by its current owner, brought to the UK and given to Thornley Kelham Ltd. for an exhaustive restoration. The 2015 Concours d’Elégance marks this special car’s renaissance.
The classes of this year’s Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance are:
Celebrating 90 Years of the Alfa Romeo 6C
Pre-war Luxury & Touring
Gentlemen GT Drivers - To the Track & Back
Competition Cars
Post-war Coachwork
Wind in your Hair
Pininfarina & The Prancing Horse
Fixed Head Coupés from the 50s and 60s
Exceptional Motorcycles:
Class 1: 1900 - 1939 | Class 2: 1940 – 1974
The 2015 jury thus far comprises of:
Derek Bell MBE (Chief Judge: Non-Voting) – 5 Times Le Mans Winner & British GP Racing Driver
Keith Bluemel – Ferrari Historian
Henry Cole – Motorbike Presenter & CEO Gladstone Motorcycles
Fabio Filippini – Vice President Design Pininfarina
Joanne Marshall – Head of EMEA Communications and PR – Ferrari SpA
Adolfo Orsi – President of Historica Selecta
Steve Parrish – Motorsport TV Commentator
Christian Philippsen – Automobile Consultant and organiser of the Louis Vuitton Classic Car Awards
Tom Purves – Chairman, Royal Automobile Club
Patrick Rollet – President of FIVA
Jeff Smith MBE – Former World Champion Motocross Racer
Mick Walsh – Editor in Chief, Classic and Sports Car Magazine
Tickets are now on sale at www.salonpriveconcours.com
Media contacts
Matt Sanger: 0207 952 1079 or msanger@torqueagencygroup.com
Rachel Burgess: 0207 952 1076 or rburgess@torqueagencygroup.com
Editors’ notes
About Salon Privé:
Now in its 10th year, Salon Privé takes place from Thursday 3rd to Saturday 5th September at the stunning Blenheim Palace and is firmly established as the UK’s most prestigious Luxury Supercar Show & Concours d’Elégance. The three-day event incorporates the Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance, Boodles Ladies’ Day and The British Supercar Show, along with the EFG Art and Memorabilia Fair and The Salon Privé Sale in association with Silverstone Auctions. The Tour d’Elégance takes place for Concours owners only on Wednesday 2ndSeptember. Salon Privé takes pride and place amongst the leading automotive shows of the world including the U.S.’s Pebble Beach and Italy’s Villa d’Este. www.salonpriveconcours.com
