A Symphony of Speed and Style: Highlights from Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace

Against the backdrop of one of England's most storied estates, enthusiasts, collectors, and industry icons gathered to revel in a fusion of history and modernity. From the iconic tributes to Steve McQueen's enduring legacy to the world debuts of some of the most ambitious hypercars, Salon Privé 2024 was a definitive statement of speed, style, and sophistication.

McQueen x Renauld: An Icon Reborn

One of the highlights from this year's event was the presence of Steve McQueen’s grandson, Chase, and legendary drivers from the Le Mans film, including David Piper and Richard Attwood. They were brought together to celebrate the launch of the new limited edition collection of McQueen x Renauld sunglasses, which are a faithful re-imagining of the exact pair Steve wore on the set of Le Mans. 

Renauld CEO Gareth Llewelyn hosted a live Q&A session that also included Richard Bray (the on-set mechanic during filming) and Peter Darley, who was the Lotus pit photographer for Colin Chapman and the man responsible for strapping McQueen into his 917 during filming. 

“As Steve McQueen’s grandson, this project holds a special place in my heart. My grandfather’s legacy extends beyond his unforgettable presence on screen; his passion for motor racing was a driving force in his life. Being able to reimagine the iconic sunglasses he wore during the making of Le Mans is not just a homage to his style, but a celebration of his love for racing and innovation.”

Accompanying the ensemble cast was the Porsche 917 race number 2 which was one of the cars used during the filming of Le Mans and the car David Piper and Richard Attwood drove to victory in the Kyalami 9 Hour Endurance Race in South Africa. 

Tuthill’s GT One 

Since Tuthill’s GT One was first spotted at LAX last month and later unveiled at Monterey Car Week, this limited-edition, Le Mans-inspired road car has continued to captivate attention. Its presence on the lawn at Blenheim was no exception, as photographers and journalists flocked to the car and the man who built it, Richard Tuthill. 

Tuthill will build 22 production examples with each vehicle requiring 3,500 build-hours of meticulous construction to create each client’s personalised car. 

Designed by California based designer Florian Flatau, the GT One features a full carbon fibre body which is powered by a 4.0-litre, 6-cylinder engine; available in both naturally aspirated and forced induction versions. The naturally aspirated engine option will produce in excess of 500 BHP, inspired by their high-revving 911K engine, while the forced induction offering will produce over 600 BHP. 

Other Manufacturer Showstoppers 

A number of hyper-car manufacturers were also out in force, with Naran Automotive making their UK debut with the aptly named ‘Naran’, a hyper coupe built with the ambition to be the fastest four-seater car around the Nurburgring. 

Kingsley Re-Engineered also brought the heat with their new Defender series, built to deliver Range Rover levels of sophistication and comfort. Every alteration, insists Kingsley, both retains the essence of a Land Rover Defender “while transforming it into a perfect companion for both off- and on-road trips”.

Forza Ferrari 

A fabulous 1957 Ferrari 335 S won the coveted Best of Show award. Chassis number 0674 was raced by Ferrari during the 1957 season, and by a stellar driver line-up. In March that year, the young Englishman Peter Collins took the Ferrari to sixth place in the Sebring 12 Hours, sharing with French veteran Maurice Trintignant. Two months later, Wolfgang von Trips finished second in the gruelling Mille Miglia.

Having been upgraded to 4.1-litre specification at the factory, the Ferrari was back in action in June 1957 at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Mike Hawthorn and Luigi Musso shared driving duties at La Sarthe, and although they failed to finish, ‘0674’ set the fastest lap of the race.

Its final outing as a works car was at the 1957 Caracas 1000km, when Hawthorn and Musso finished second. The car then passed to Luigi Chinetti – a hugely significant figure in Ferrari history, and founder of the North American Racing Team. Chinetti entered it for the Cuban Grand Prix in February 1958, when it was driven to victory by none other than English ace Stirling Moss.

After its period competition career, the Ferrari spent a number of years in the collection of renowned marque enthusiast Pierre Bardinon.

The other Ferrari’s that commanded attention included the stunning Ferrari 250 GTO brought by Joe Macari, as well as Lord Bamford’s 250 GTO. 

Overall, it’s been another fantastic Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace, and we can't wait to do it all again next year! On that note, we'll leave you with some images of this stunning Ferrari F40, repainted in the historic Ferrari shade of Azzurro Hyperion - a particular favourite of ours from this years event.