Salon Prive Syon Park, Preview

One of the major luxury car show events on the calendar, and fast becoming a credible rival some of the more established international opposition, Salon Prive is moving from its traditional late June date to 5-7th September this year.

The venue is still the same, but the thinking is that no matter who you are, competing directly with the Jubilee and the run up to the Olympics was never going to work. There`s a serious amount of effort involved in putting on show`s of this magnitude, and lots of busy and well off owners to get organised. Would you want to have to choose between your precious Olympic tickets, or showing off your classic Bugatti?

To get us all in the mood, the organisers, David & Andrew Bagley and their loyal team hosted a photo shoot down at Syon Park, and inevitably we had to dodge some of the April showers. Champagne from sponsors Pommery helped ease the pain, but I still struggled to love car enthusiast and Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay`s unique 330 Ferrari Vignale special.

Italian coachbuilders have almost always been distinctive, and there`s no denying this stands out in a crowd, but “Shooting Brake” (essentially estate) bodies have rarely sat well on a Ferrari chassis.

You have to admire it being there though, and show`s like this are all about the unusual, the unique, and the rarely seen, as well as giving Jaguar, Aston Martin and Bentley a chance to show off their latest wares. There`s also the charity ball, this year in aid of the very worthy Rainbow Trust, tickets at £5,950 + vat for a table of 10.

Syon Park is @ 10 miles from the centre of London, just off the A4, tickets from £195 + vat for unreserved seating.