Just to prove the event was in London, the rear end of the R33 and a London Double Decker Bus, also known as the Boris bus, so named after Boris Johnson, the then Mayor of London.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

I was unable to make the London edition of Salon Prive, but as luck would have it the organizers decided to do a small preview under the title of ‘The Sloane Street Concours’ on April 11th. For those not familiar with London shopping streets, Sloane Street and the surrounding environs is home to some very upmarket shops, as you will see from looking at the background. Great if you like shopping (yuk) and have a Gold card.

Surprisingly the road was not shut to traffic so the hi vis jacket-clad marshalls had a field day telling us to keep on the pavement, like that was going to happen with the mobile phone touting youth out in force. Anyway not a large amount of cars to view, but eventually the sun came out and the expensive lunch I had was rather nice so not a bad day out. So if you want to know who won what, as judged by a panel of Design students from the Royal College of Art I have pasted the list below.

As the day drew to a close, a selection of awards were presented to the standout cars on display, chosen by our young panel of Royal College of Art Automotive Design Students.

Best Coachwork – Aston Martin Valhalla
Best Overall Design – Automotive Artisans R33
Best Supercar – Ferrari SF90 XX
People’s Choice – Gordon Murray Automotive T.50S
Best Hypercar – Koenigsegg Jesko
Best Track Car – McLaren F1 GTR
Best Classic – Ferrari 250 California Spyder

Ferrari displayed by Joe Macari, a London based dealer.

The Maserati MC12 GT1 competed at the highest level from 2005 to 2010. JMB Racing’s chassis 008 stands as the fifth most-raced example among the 11 MC12 GT1s built, recording 28 race starts across three competitive seasons in the FIA GT Championship. Its record includes five podium finishes, highlighted by an overall victory at Magny-Cours in 2005, as well as strong performances at the prestigious Spa 24 Hours, finishing second in 2005 and fourth in 2008.

Chassis 3059 GT was the 31st of the 56 SWB California Spyders produced and was completed in November 1961. It was originally finished in Rosso Cina over a Beige Connolly leather interior and specified with covered headlights, factory removeable hardtop, and no bumper brackets, features that place it among the most desirable specifications of the model. Factory records document a tightly sequenced assembly and a dyno-tested output of 220 horsepower.

On the left the new Encore series 1, a re-imagined carbon fibre bodied Lotus Esprit powered by a 400 bhp re-engineered twin turbo V8. On the right, from the pen of Giugiaro, the 160 bhp Lotus Esprit complete with Morris Marina door handles and tartan fabric interior.

The new Gordon Murray Special Vehicles’ Le Mans GTR,

Proof that Ferrari no longer make elegant cars,

…just insanely fast ones, the SF90 XX

On the left the new road legal Nichols N1A track car, on the right its inspiration a McLaren M1A.

On the left, the 500 bhp electric Restomod Rolls Royce Cornich by Halcyon, or as my friend said ” how to make an already heavy car even heavier. On the right the bonkers Koenigsegg Jesko with up to 1600 bhp.

Thank heavens they put badges on the side as I cannot tell one McLaren from another, This, according to the badge on the side, is a 750S. Just visible to the right is the tail end of a McLaren Speedtail.

Sud Super sorta sums it all up.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

After the perceived glamour of Retromobile Paris, it was time for a trip up the M40 to the NEC in Birmingham for the ‘Practical Classics Magazine’s Classic Car and Restoration Show’, an event that is more boiler suits than Armani suits but just as enjoyable. Unlike other classic car shows such as Retro, at the Practical Classics show the attendees manning the club stands are welding spanners rather than just drinking tea and chatting, while in Paris they sip wine; it is all very hands on and grass roots.

Winner of best in show, Mr Sascha Baggli’s 1951 Bentley Mark VI Cresta II by Facel Metallon. This unique vehicle was commissioned by Jean Daninos as a gift for his wife.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

In the lull between Retromobile and the proper start of the 2026 season I thought you might indulge me by allowing me to show you an event that we did not have a chance to publish in 2025 – the Cartier Style et Luxe concours which is an integral part of the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed.

You can always rely on the Cartier team to come up with a great selection of classes and last year was no exception.