1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen has taken Best of Show at the Salon Privé 2025 Concours
The Auriga Collection’s stunning pre-war masterpiece takes top honours at the 20th Anniversary Concours by Aviva Private Clients
A 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen has taken Best of Show at the Salon Privé 2025 Concours by Aviva Private Clients, the centrepiece of Salon Privé’s 20th anniversary celebrations at Blenheim Palace.
The win capped two days of judging, where 60 classics — more than half of them international entries from 13 countries — competed across 12 classes, including Pre-War American Classics, Ferrari Racers of the 1950s, European GTs, Coachbuilding by HJ Mulliner, and Supercar Pin-ups of the 80s and 90s.
A masterpiece of pre-war design
Shown by The Auriga Collection of Germany, the Mercedes-Benz triumphed in the Pre-War Open class before taking the overall accolade. Judges praised its rare Long Tail high-door design with sweeping coachwork, deciding it was simply too exceptional to overlook.
Introduced in 1934, the 500 K is regarded as one of the greatest pre-war automobiles, combining sweeping curves, elongated proportions, and exquisite detailing. With only 12 examples built, it remains among the most desirable and valuable classics, embodying Mercedes-Benz’s legacy of innovation and craftsmanship.
Chassis #123763 has a distinguished history, having been ordered new by Prince Pavel Alexandrovich Chavchavadze at the 1935 Paris Auto Salon. It won the Grand Prix d’Honneur at Cannes in 1936, underwent a concours-level restoration by Lothar Motschenbacher in the 1990s, and was a Class Winner at Pebble Beach in 1997. Remarkably, Salon Privé 2025 marked its first public showing since that triumph nearly three decades ago.
Reaction from Salon Privé and The Auriga Collection
Andrew Bagley, co-founder and Chairman of Salon Privé, said:
“This year’s Concours was particularly special as we celebrated two decades of Salon Privé against the stunning backdrop of Blenheim Palace. The quality and diversity of the entries was truly world-class, with cars arriving from across Europe, the United States and beyond.
“Every single vehicle on the lawn represented the pinnacle of its era, and the judges faced an incredibly difficult task in deciding the winners for each class. The Mercedes-Benz is simply unparalleled for its rarity, concours provenance and sheer beauty, which made it an absolute deserving winner for Best of Show.
“We’re enormously proud to have welcomed the Mercedes-Benz and so many remarkable automobiles and their owners, who together help to create the unique atmosphere that makes Salon Privé so exceptional.”
Vincent Kolb of The Auriga Collection added:
“This is the first year of entering Salon Privé with both the Mercedes 500 K and the Alfa 8C Monza, and certainly will not be our last.
“Of course, we have known of Salon Privé for many years now but still we could not believe the scale and diversity of the show. We couldn’t be more thrilled to drive away with Best in Show.”
Other award winners
The Best of Show decision was made after two days of judging under the new M100 system, led by Chief Judge Nigel Matthews. Unique to the UK, Salon Privé’s concours is judged by single-marque experts, ensuring the winning car is truly the most outstanding example on the lawns.
Mercedes-Benz proved especially successful this year. Alongside the 500 K, Marc Walter’s 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet won the Spirit Award – The Margaret Bagley Trophy, while Dr Michael Grebe’s 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster claimed the Preservation Award.
The Runner-Up and People’s Choice Award went to Anne Brockinton Lee’s 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupé “Super Fast” Prototype by Pinin Farina. One of only four prototypes and the sole example by Pinin Farina, it was also Anne’s first restoration since the passing of her husband, Robert M. Lee. Already a Best of Show winner at Cavallino and The Quail in 2023, the Ferrari was a strong contender for this year’s top honour.
Other standout entries included Mitch McCullough’s 1964 Alpine M64 from the Sports Racer class and the Bentley Motors Heritage Collection’s 1953 Bentley R Type Continental by H.J. Mulliner, both winning their respective categories.
A landmark year for Salon Privé
Salon Privé’s 20th anniversary event was set against the UNESCO-listed backdrop of Blenheim Palace.
Highlights included the unveiling of the Qatar Executive Gallery, a stunning 4,460 sqm glass structure housing 44 of the world’s most magnificent cars; the Emerald Green Collection, a one-off assembly of rare cars finished in green; and UK debuts for the RML GT Hypercar and an Electrogenic Aston Martin DB6 built for Jimmy Carr.
The concours continues through the weekend, with the Concours de Vente debuting on Sunday, 31 August. This new feature brings together cars offered for sale by leading specialists, with the Prix d’Honneur to be awarded during the finale parade.
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