Salon Prive 2014: the 10 best cars
Join us for a look at the rarest, coolest, most interesting cars at this year’s Salon Prive luxury and sports car show in London
The decadent Salon Prive luxury and supercar show is back again to bring the world’s rarest, fastest and expensive classic and supercars together at Syon House in London.
Auto Express has headed to the show and been given a sneak preview tour of the lots for the Silverstone Auctions sale, to bring you this look at the stunning vehicles on show at Salon Prive this year.
• Most expensive cars sold at auction
Morgan SP1
Making its world debut at Salon Prive is this totally unique Morgan, the SP1. Commissioned by a well-heeled Morgan enthusiast, the SP1 mates classic Plus Eight and Aeromax design cues with a the 2009 LifeCar concept’s look. Topping it all off is a bespoke polished wood interior.
Though the car has been built as a one-off design study, it is nevertheless blessed with an engine - in this case the 3.7-litre V6 from a Ford Mustang. Though it only develops 280bhp, this hand-built aluminium and wood-supported creation weighs just 1,000kg.
Morgan claims it’ll hit 62mph in 5.5 seconds and 150mph flat out. The price? A closely guarded (but rumoured to be eye-watering) secret
Jay Kay’s Ferrari LaFerrari
After stunning the crowds at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Jamiroquai front man Jay Kay’s bright-green LaFerrari is back in the spotlight at Salon Prive. The 950bhp hybrid V12 supercar bears Jay Kay’s ’22 JET’ registration, and is on display in the Hypercar Paddock along with a Pagani Huayra, Koenigsegg Agera R and Bugatti Veyron. If green isn’t your colour, there are two other LaFerraris in attendance at Salon Prive, both finished in good old Rosso Corsa.
Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato
Also starring at the show is the first example of five Zagato-bodied Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggeras. Based on the defunct LP570-4 V10 supercar, Zagato has clothed the Italian supercar in a controversial carbon fibre body featuring the classic cues of a double-bubble roof and round taillights. The Gallardo’s successor, the new Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4, appears elsewhere at Salon Prive, on the Lamborghini stand.
Ian Callum’s Jaguar Mk2
The Jaguar designer’s bespoke ‘restomod’ Mk2 saloon is on show at Salon Prive. The car, revealed only last week, has been treated to a 30mm ride height drop, and 17-inch polished split-rim wheels. It’s powered by a 4.3-litre V8 engine, and while only a one-off at the moment, Auto Express understands Callum has given his blessing to similar cars being produced if demand picks up.
Abarth 695 BiPosto
Alongside all the rarefied exotica, it’s great to see an insane hot hatchback gatecrashing the Salon Prive party. The Abarth 695 BiPosto is the ultimate Fiat 500, with its engine tuned to develop 197bhp and driving through the world’s only street-legal, manufacturer-approved racing ‘dogbox’ transmission. Weighing in at 997kg without fluids and packing sticky Yokohama tyres, carbon fibre trim and a 5.9 seconds 0-62mph time, it’s a tiny supercar with a massive price tag. For the version pictures, you’re looking at a £50,000 bill.
Ferrari F12 TRS
Standard 730bhp Ferrari F12 Berlinetta not enough for you? Ferrari’s tailor-made programme was commissioned to build an open-top version by a wealthy collector, resulting in the one-off F12 TRS. The roofless silhouette is inspired by 1950s racing cars, while the Alcantara-clad cabin interestingly has been specced without a radio. All the better to hear that 6.3-litre V12 engine, we say.
Range Rover Chassis No.1
And so to the cars up for sale at Salon Prive’s Silverstone Auctions event. This 1969 Range Rover might look unremarkable save for its mint condition, but it is actually chassis number 001: the first Range Rover ever produced and therefore genesis to today’s Evoque and Range Rover Sport SVR. The car underwent a complete restoration in the 1990s, and is expected to fetch between £100,000 and £140,000.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso
One of just 22 right-hand drive examples, this 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso is not just rare and beautiful – it even comes with an upholstery-matching luggage set, which is as exquisite as its exterior. This is the most expensive road car present available at this auction, with the hammer expected to fall between £1.75m and £2million.
Blower Bentley 4.5-litre
The most expensive car outright at the 2014 Salon Prive auction is this 1931 Blower Bentley. The famous ‘blower’, or supercharger of this car is actually the original unit fitted to the car, which was sourced in the US after a worldwide search. Fully restored and eligible for myriad classic car events, it’s expected to fetch in the region of £2.25m to £2.5million.
Fangio’s Mercedes 170SD truck
Perhaps the least glamorous but most cool vehicle at Salon Prive 2014 is this unassuming truck. Hidden out the back of the main auction site, this little lorry was actually once owned by F1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio. Rumour has it that when Mercedes-Benz, which Fangio spent much of his career racing for, began to market cars in South America, Fangio acquired this van for running parts errands in during the 1950s and 1960s. Flown in from Argentina for the auction, it’s a relative bargain, expected to fetch between £60,000 and £80,000.
Which car at Salon Prive 2014 is your favourite? Let us know in the comments section then check out our content from Pebble Beach and Monterey Car Week 2015
