1935 Duesenberg SJ Gurney Nutting Speedster to Make Special Appearance at Salon Privé 2026
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 that an extraordinary 1935 Duesenberg SJ Gurney Nutting Speedster will make a special appearance at its Blenheim Palace event this September, in what will be one of the most significant automotive displays seen in the UK this year.
Appearing across the Concours days on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 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. Its appearance at Salon Privé marks the first public showing of the car since receiving the honour.
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 the celebrated British coachbuilder Gurney Nutting, making this dramatic long-wheelbase Speedster completely unique.
A Royal Commission Like No Other
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 wings 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 in India 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, carefully preserving its original royal detailing and craftsmanship.
A Concours Champion
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.
“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.”
Andrew Bagley, Chairman and Co-Founder, Salon Privé
Salon Privé 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.
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 carefully 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 ticket information and event details, visit www.salonpriveconcours.com.
