The Most Famous Concours d’Elegance: Hampton Court and Salon Privé, British Tradition and Inclusion

One glance around is enough to understand how the British passion for classic cars perfectly blends with the sumptuous palaces of a country that continues to follow the stories of its Royals with respect and curiosity. In London, at the palace that was once the residence of Henry VIII and opened to the public by Queen Victoria in 1838, the aristocratic Hampton Court Concours of Elegance takes place. A concours that, for variety's sake, has also been held at Windsor Castle and St. James Palace. The formula of the Concours is the classic one with about sixty cars selected for judging, from which the class winners and the Best of Show are chosen.

The aristocratic Hampton Court Palace is the perfect setting for the Concours of Elegance scheduled from August 30 to September 1.

To this strictly British ritual, a second winner is added, chosen by the public from the cars presented by the Clubs in an area adjacent to the Concours. These cars are often of such high quality that the chosen one is automatically admitted to the official Concours the following year, much to the delight of the presenting collector. The Hampton Court event is set for the coming days, from August 30 to September 1, and the winner will take the place of last year's Best of Show, the Maserati A6GCS/53 Frua Spider.

Last year's Best of Show at Hampton Court was the Maserati A6GCS/53 Frua Spider.

A similar approach is taken by Salon Privé, now approaching its twentieth year. In this case, the stage is not in London but at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. Here, it is not the royalty that lends prestige to the site, but a famous ancient family with a descendant universally known as Winston Churchill. For participants and the public, in addition to enjoying the 75 cars chosen for the Concours and judged, there is the chance to appreciate the magnificence of the park of the ancient mansion of the Dukes of Marlborough and to get lost in the maze, which is part of the site's attractions.

Salon Privé takes place in Oxfordshire from August 28 to 31 at the splendid Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.

Salon Privé has a very creative formula with the 75 cars presented divided into thirteen classes, some of which are very original, such as the one involving ladies with combinations of fashion and cars. It is this different style that makes the partial overlap of dates between Hampton Court and Salon Privé (August 28-31) compatible. Enthusiasts coming from abroad or from afar can visit both and judge the winning cars. In the last edition, the Best of Show was a magnificent 1937 Bugatti Tipo 57S Corsica.

The Best of Show 2023 at Salon Privé was the beautiful 1937 Bugatti Tipo 57S Corsica.