Event at Blenheim Palace crowned a 1969 Miura P400 S among the classics and a 1995 McLaren F1 among modern collector cars
Two of the most admired automobiles in history shared the spotlight at Salon Privé 2026, held at Blenheim Palace in the United Kingdom. A 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S and a 1995 McLaren F1 received the concours’ top honors, marking an unprecedented decision in the event’s 21-year history.
For the first time, Salon Privé established two separate Best of Show categories. The change separates major historic classics from more recent supercars and hypercars, reflecting the growing appreciation of these models in the international collector-car market.
The Best of Show Concours d’Elégance title went to the Lamborghini Miura P400 S owned by Amir Ravan and the RLC Collection. The car competed in the “The Italian Job – 60 Years of the Lamborghini Miura” class, created to celebrate six decades of one of the automotive industry’s most influential designs.
Introduced in the late 1960s, the Miura transformed the way manufacturers and customers viewed high-performance sports cars. With its V12 engine mounted transversely behind the occupants and bodywork designed by Marcello Gandini for Bertone, the model helped establish the architecture that would become a benchmark for supercars.
The award-winning car underwent a four-year restoration process carried out by the team at Tom Hartley Junior. According to Amir Ravan, the work sought to preserve not only the automobile’s appearance but also its historical significance.
“For me, the Miura represents a true turning point in automotive history. The engineering, proportions and extraordinary Gandini design came together to create something that remains special almost 60 years later,” said the collector.
McLaren F1 inaugurates new award
In the category dedicated to modern collector cars, the overall winner was the 1995 McLaren F1 owned by Terry Bramall.
The model became the first automobile to receive the newly created Best of Show Concours d’Excellence, an award aimed specifically at limited-production supercars and hypercars that have already achieved historical significance and strong interest among collectors.
The F1 competed in the “Poster Cars – Icons from Our Youth” class, dedicated to models that became symbols of a generation.
Designed under the leadership of Gordon Murray, the McLaren F1 was introduced in the early 1990s with an approach that remains unusual even by today’s standards. The model combines a carbon-fiber structure, a naturally aspirated BMW V12 engine and a three-seat cabin configuration, with the driver positioned in the center.
Produced in extremely limited numbers, the F1 has evolved over the past few decades from a revolutionary supercar into one of the most sought-after vehicles in the international collector-car market.
The winning car was restored by British specialist Lanzante.
“I am extremely happy and impressed to have won the first Salon Privé Concours d’Excellence at such a prestigious event. The F1 is an extraordinary car and a testament to the work of its designer Gordon Murray and its restorers at Lanzante,” said Bramall.
70 cars and almost a century of automotive history
In total, 70 automobiles competed across the 12 categories of the Salon Privé Concours by Aviva Private Clients.
The selection covered almost a century of automotive history and included models such as the Armstrong-Siddeley Special Six, Maserati 8C 3000, Alfa Romeo Sprint Berlinetta, Porsche 356 Split Window Coupé, Aston Martin DB3S, Bizzarrini 5300GT and Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet.
Among the more recent models were the Bugatti EB110 Prototype, Aston Martin Valiant Prototype, Bugatti Bolide and Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 Prototype 1.
Another milestone of the 2026 edition was the participation of the 2025 Rimac Nevera Time Attack. The hypercar became the first fully electric model to compete in the concours in its 21-year history.
The categories included themes such as “Grace and Elegance – The Golden Age of Motoring”, “Design in Motion – 100 Years of Carrozzeria Touring”, “La Dolce Vita” and “Passione Ferrari – Masterpieces of Maranello”.
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Source and images: Salon Privé / Blenheim Palace.
