Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace London fits the definition of “splendid” without diluting the lexicon. The event took place on the historic grounds of Hampton Court Palace, a royal residence located on the Thames in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Originally built in 1514 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII took over the property after Wolsey fell from favor and transformed it into one of his most lavish residences. In the 1690s, William and Mary hired architect Sir Christopher Wren to rebuild large parts of the palace in the Baroque style to rival the Palace of Versailles.
Automotive Excellence on Royal Grounds
Concours organizers brought “80 of the world’s rarest and most historically significant collector cars” to these grounds, calling it “more than a century of automotive excellence.” The display included a 1929 Mercedes-Benz SSK Roadster, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante, a 1955 Aston Martin DB3S, and a 1963 Maserati 3500 Vignale Spyder. England’s best car clubs were also recognized with the Club Trophy for the finest car presented by participating clubs. Attendees could watch the cars arrive and depart during the Grand Arrival and Grand Depart ceremonies, tour the State Apartments, and enjoy Fortnum & Mason picnics and Charles Heidsieck Champagne.
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The Best of Show award went to a red 1928 Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK Rennwagen, or race car. The SSK stands for Super Sport Kurz, with kurz meaning “short wheelbase.” The car was developed from Ferdinand Porsche’s Model S chassis, with its wheelbase shortened from 3,400 mm (134 inches) to 2,950 mm (116 inches) to create a shorter, lighter, and more agile competition machine. It was powered by Mercedes-Benz’s massive 7,065-cc M06 straight-six, fitted with a mechanically engaged Roots-type supercharger producing approximately 250 bhp in racing form. This powerplant was designed specifically to provide instant torque, ensuring the car could accelerate rapidly out of tight corners, a vital trait for its racing class.
A South American Racing Legacy
The car was originally delivered to Argentina, where it was raced by Julio Berndt and his brother-in-law Carlos Zatuszek. The pair entered it in the 1929 500 Miles of Argentina, while Zatuszek subsequently competed in the CĂłrdoba Grand Prix and Argentina’s Herbstpreis. Remarkably, the Mercedes continued competing in South America until 1958. The SSK was restored by Reifen-Wagner in 1995-96 and returned to its early racing configuration. The restoration process involved meticulously sourcing original parts and ensuring that the car’s mechanical integrity matched the specifications of its original competition build.
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Despite an international competition history and appearances at major events, the SSK had never previously appeared at an event in the UK. Concours organizers noted that its arrival at Hampton Court Palace represented a significant new chapter in its near-century-long history, crowned with the ultimate honor. It is possible to plan a grand tour across major automotive events in a short window. One could start in mid-August at Pebble Beach, then travel to the Concours of Elegance and Salon Privé in the UK, followed by Chantilly and the Goodwood Revival, all within a little over a month. This ambitious itinerary allows enthusiasts to witness the evolution of automotive culture and vintage racing across multiple continents.
