Award winning one-off royal commission and Peninsula Classics ‘Best of the Best’ winner to headline special display at Blenheim Palace this September.
Salon Privé has confirmed an extraordinary 1935 Duesenberg SJ Gurney Nutting Speedster will make a special appearance at its Blenheim Palace event in September, in what will be one of the most significant automotive displays seen in the UK this year.
Appearing at the five-day Blenheim Palace event across the event’s Concours days on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd September, the remarkable SJ Gurney Nutting Speedster, chassis J-585 / 2614, is one of the rarest and most celebrated Duesenbergs ever created, having been crowned winner of the prestigious Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award in 2023. The appearance at Salon Privé is the first public showing since it picked up the win at the awards.
Of the 481 Duesenberg Model Js ever produced, only 38 were supercharged and just 30 chassis were sent to European coachbuilders. Only one was bodied by celebrated British coachbuilder Gurney Nutting, making this dramatic long-wheelbase Speedster completely unique.
Originally commissioned by Maharajah Holkar of Indore at just 28 years old, the car was built for royal use and fitted with a series of bespoke touches befitting its status, including chrome flagsticks and red and blue lights mounted to the front fenders to indicate whether the Maharajah or Maharanee was travelling in the car.
Following completion in London, the Duesenberg was shipped to New York before being driven back to Indianapolis by Duesenberg employees for final preparation. With concerns growing around the threat of Japanese invasion in India at the time, the car was initially delivered to the Maharajah’s California residence before eventually being transported to India via Singapore. The car remained there until the 1950s when it returned to the United States, where it has remained ever since.
The highest-numbered Duesenberg chassis ever built, the SJ Gurney Nutting Speedster has since undergone an exceptional restoration with careful attention to retain its original royal detailing and craftsmanship.
The car was first restored following its return to the United States in 1959 and later achieved a remarkable 99.5-point score at the Eastern Grand Classic meeting of the Classic Car Club of America in 1963. In recent years, it received global acclaim after winning the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award in 2023, cementing its status as one of the world’s most important classic automobiles.
Andrew Bagley, Chairman and co-founder of Salon Privé, said:
“To welcome this extraordinary Duesenberg SJ Gurney Nutting Speedster to Salon Privé 2026 is a real privilege for us and a very special moment for the event. Quite simply, this is one of the most important and celebrated American classics ever created, with a history, provenance and presence that is almost impossible to replicate.
“We are incredibly proud that the owner has chosen Salon Privé as the platform to display the car for the first time since being crowned the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best and we know it will be one of the standout automotive moments of 2026.”
Now in its 21st year, Salon Privé returns to Blenheim Palace this September with what promises to be its most exciting automotive experience yet, bringing together world-class classic cars, hypercars, luxury brands and hospitality across a five-day celebration of automotive excellence.
Included in the five-day event, the Salon Privé Concours by Aviva Private Clients will once again showcase some of the rarest and most significant privately-owned vehicles from around the world, judged by an international panel of experts across a curated series of classes. The event will also feature Ladies’ Day by Boodles, Concours de Vente, the Club Trophy presented by Lockton, Supercar Sunday and Lifestyle Clubs Day, alongside luxury retail experiences and fine dining.
For details on how to book tickets to attend, visit salonpriveconcours.com
About Salon Privé
Salon Privé is the UK’s most prestigious automotive event held annually at Blenheim Palace. Blending world-class motoring with the elegance of a classic English garden party, Salon Privé spans five days, commencing with the Salon Privé Concours by Aviva Private Clients, followed by Ladies’ Day by Boodles. Salon Privé Supercar Saturday and Club Trophy Day presented by Lockton and Supercar Sunday and Lifestyle Club Day complete the week-long event. The event, 2 – 6 September 2026 celebrates automotive excellence, style, and heritage – an unmissable social occasion for collectors, enthusiasts, and lovers of automotive and luxury.
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