Ssangyong UK is the title sponsor for the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, for 3 years.

SsangYong Motor UK has been announced as the title sponsor of Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials for the next three years. 

Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, the event owned by the sport’s governing body, British Eventing, takes place in Oxfordshire from 13-17 September 2017. With the stunning backdrop of Blenheim Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, home of the Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, it has one of the most beautiful settings of any sporting event in the a. 

 “Blenheim is one of the top international horse trials held in the UK, and perfectly complements the SsangYong brand focus on four-wheel drive and SUVs, vehicles particularly suited to those living in the country or who tow a horse box, caravan or trailer,” says Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK Ltd. 

“As we prepare to launch our all-new Rexton 4x4 later this year, the timing couldn’t be better; Blenheim will feature prominently in our launch plans,” added Paul. 

Mandy Hervieu, Blenheim’s event director, said: “SsangYong joining us as title sponsor is brilliant news. We will be increasing the prize-money and enhancing our facilities for competitors, owners and visitors.” 

There are three international classes this year at the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials: the CCI3*, the prestigious CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-old horses, and the final of the exciting Event Rider Masters series, also held at CIC3* level. 

Blenheim also offers grassroots riders the chance to compete alongside their heroes with a wide range of amateur classes and a popular fun ride. 

New course-designer David Evans is making exciting changes to the cross-country courses, utilising new areas of the park including the south lawn of Blenheim Palace, with new fences and fresh challenges built into the course.

£3.4million total sales at Silverstone Auctions’ Salon Privé Sale. Including in this is the Jaguar driven by Boycie in Only Fools and Horses.

• £3.4million total sales at Silverstone Auctions’ Salon Privé Sale.
• Jaguar E-Type that starred in Only Fools & Horses sells for £115,875
• The auction took place at Blenheim Palace last Saturday, 3^rd September.

Returning to the UK’s finest concours event for the third time, Silverstone Auctions welcomed hundreds of collectors and enthusiasts to its marquee within the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace for the Salon Privé Sale. Featuring one of its highest ever quality catalogues, the auction house successfully hammered away more than £3.4million worth of classic cars.

A very special 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III Roadster, that starred in the second ever episode of legendary BBC sitcom Only Fools & Horses, sold for an impressive £115,875. Invited to appear in the episode titled “Go West Young Man", and forever since been known as "Boycie's E-Type” the car was hard fought over by several buyers in the room, the largely original and one owner from new car, sold for more than £40,000 over its lower estimate.

Another beautiful Jaguar convertible, a 1959 Jaguar XK150 3.4 S Drophead Coupe, sold for £189,000, again more than £40,000 over its lower estimate.

Leading up to the auction house’ second ever Porsche only sale, several highly desirable Porsches sold for strong prices. One of the finest Silverstone Auctions’ had ever seen, a 1988 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo, sold for £171,000 including premium, a huge £60,000 over its lower estimate.

Taking pride of place next to the auction rostrum, an original UK 1963 Porsche 356B TG Super 90, that at the time of consignment was the only right-hand drive Super 90 Coupé on the market in the UK, sold for £146,250. A very well presented and maintained 1971 Porsche 911 T sold for £69,750, while those who prefer a more modern 911 were clearly impressed by a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0, which sold for £208,125 including premium.

Speaking after the sale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, Nick Whale said: “I’m delighted with the results we’ve achieved on behalf of our vendors. It’s always great to see both happy sellers and buyers at an auction and we’ve certainly seen that this weekend.”

Collectors of American classics were drawn to an incredible 1968 Shelby GT500, which sold for £142,875, more than £42,000 over its lower estimate. Offered publicly for sale for the first time ever in Europe, the car came a deluxe Marti Report and was included in the Shelby World Register.

The appetite for rare, high quality, low mileage modern classics does not appear to be slowing. A 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II, with an unbelievable 885 miles from new, sold for £202,500.

A sure-fire future collectible, a 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe sold for £127,125, while a very rare 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL60 AMG, one of just 49 right-hand drive cars produced and with just 13,500 miles covered, sold for £56,250.

From Munich, another very rare car, a 1990 BMW E30 M3 Convertible, sold for £59,625, more than £20,000 over its lower estimate.

Silverstone Auctions’ next sale, The Porsche Sale, takes place back at its spiritual home of Silverstone race circuit on Saturday 15^th October, followed by its final sale of the year the NEC Classic Motor Show on the 12^thand 13^th November.

Nick added: “If you missed the chance to sell with us this summer we’re now inviting entries for our final sales of the year. The Porsche Sale, held in conjunction with Porsche Club GB, is a chance for Porsche fans to buy and sell the finest available selection on the market. Our two-day sale at the UK’s biggest classic car show is always one of the highlight sales of the year.”

This arguably, best DS in the world is coming up for sale at the Silverstone Auction Salon Prive at Blenheim Palace.

• The multi-award winning car and unrivalled European show winner is regarded as the finest Citroen DS in existence
• One owner from new and treated to an exceptionally high quality restoration
• It will be auctioned on 3^rd September at Salon Privé with a sale estimate of £75,000 to £90,000

A 1973 Citroen DS Super 5, believed to be the finest Citroen DS in the world, is set to be auctioned at Silverstone Auctions’ Salon Privé Sale on Saturday 3^rd September at Blenheim Palace.

With its aerodynamic, futuristic shape and innovative technology, this Citroen DS didn’t even have to leave the dealership showroom to find its first owner. The CEO of the supplying dealership is the first and only registered owner of the car, which is now one of the most decorated examples on the classic Citroen circuit anywhere in the world.

This truly stunning, right-hand drive DS is presented in period white (Blanc Meije) bodywork with original Red Targa upholstery. Having been restored to an exceptionally high quality standard, the dedicated owner entered this exemplary classic Citroen into the most prestigious of concours level shows and competitions.

Such is the car’s success, it possesses its own display cabinets that bulge with in excess of 200 awards. As the unrivalled European show winner, the car has collected multiple concours trophies including National Champion at both the Welsh Benson & Hedges Concours and Popular Classics Roadshow. The Citroen has also achieved victories at the Scottish Benson & Hedges Concours, was an NEC show winner, and a national Meguiars Concours display car. It also featured prominently at the Paris Concours and Citroen World Championship.

This star car even boasts a television career, with appearances on both Top Gear and Fifth Gear. It has even been offered a permanent place at the national Citroen Museum in France.

“Words are not adequate to convey the condition of this important piece of motoring history, it simply must be seen to be believed,” explains Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions. “This DS is the kind of car that really gets people excited, and we’re delighted to be offering a car of this staggering quality and reputation in our sale. It’s one of the star cars in the Salon Privé Sale and fits in perfectly as part of our most exclusive sale.”

This award winning 1973 Citroen DS Super 5 will be offered for sale with an estimate of between £75,000 and £90,000. Documentation supporting the car's history fills a number of storage boxes, full photographic restoration folders and at least 150 magazine features will accompany the car.

The E-type that appeared in Only Fools and Horses is up for auction at the Silverstone Auctions at Blenheim Palace.

• Bocycie’s Jaguar E-Type which starred in the BBC’s Only Fools and Horses is to be offered at auction by Silverstone Auctions at Salon Privé.
• The one owner car has been lovingly looked after and is in largely original condition.
• It will be offered with a sale estimate of between £75,000 and £85,000.

A very special Jaguar E-Type which starred in the BBC’s famous comedy series, Only Fools and Horses, will be offered for sale at Silverstone Auctions’ Salon Privé Sale on 3^rd September at Blenheim Palace.

The 1973 Series III Roadster was delivered new to Henlys of London on 11th October 1973 and purchased by its first and only owner, a successful Swansea businessman, who has cruised his E-Type along the Welsh Riviera with the top down for the last four decades.

  

In 1981, UYP 695M was invited to star in the second ever episode of Only Fools and Horses, titled Go West Young Man, in which Boycie, the local second hand car dealer played by John Challis, purchases the car as a birthday gift for his ‘bit on the side’. Del Boy (David Jason) and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) then decide to borrow the car for a night out on the tiles, which naturally does not go quite as planned. On their way home, Rodney accidentally throws a cigar pack out of the window on which are written the phone numbers of some girls, causing Del Boy to hit the brakes and another car to crash into them.

This was of course a staged accident with no damage caused to the car itself, which has been lovingly looked after by its owner for its whole life. This exemplary E-Type earned its place in British television history, known ever since as “Boycie’s E-Type”.

This impressive car is immediately recognisable from its television appearance, finished in Old English White with a blue leather interior. Included with the car is a die-cast model of the E-Type signed by both David Jason and John Challis and presented in a frame with mounted stills of the car's appearance in the episode.

When asked about his time filming with the car, John Challis remarked, "It's only E-Type Jaguars and Adam Peaty that makes me proud to be British these days," paraphrasing his original line from the episode, and alluding to the recent British success at the Rio Olympics.

After ten years in storage in a heated garage, this year the car was treated to a light recommissioning including new shock absorbers and battery, as well as a full service. Reading 79,000 miles, and coming with a comprehensive history file including 16 previous MOTs, two sets of original keys, tool roll, jack and a current MoT until May 2017, it heads to auction with a sale estimate of between £75,000 and £85,000.

“It’s one of the joys of the auction world to be able to offer a car that is rather special in every way,” explains Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions. “Not only does it have the distinction of having been featured in one of the best loved television comedies of all time, it’s also a beautiful and extremely well looked after example in largely original condition.”

885 miles from new 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II heads to the Silverstone Auction at Blenheim Palace.

• 885 miles from new 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II for auction
• One of only four cars that were officially sold new in the UK
• Offered at Silverstone Auctions’ Salon Privé Sale estimated at between £180,000 and £220,000

An incredible 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II, with just 885 miles on the clock, will go under the hammer as part of Silverstone Auctions’ sale at Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace on Saturday 3^rd September.

This particular car, number 452 of 502 cars made by Mercedes-Benz, was supplied new to the UK by Lancaster Mercedes-Benz in 1990, one of only four cars that were officially sold new in the UK. Testament to its originality and low mileage, amazingly the dealer sticker still resides on the back window in pristine condition.

The car was purchased by a collector and stored at the supplying main dealer for approximately 10 years, covering virtually no road miles in this time. The bodywork is finished in black and the paint retains an excellent even shine across all panels. The panel fit is superb and the condition of the exterior is a joy to behold.

The same goes for the black interior that seems to have little or no wear to either the leather seats, dash, door cards or headlining. The engine bay is totally original and correct, with components that have been incredibly well preserved over the last 26 years. It now heads to auction at one of Silverstone Auctions’ most high profile auctions of the year, estimated at between £180,000 and £220,000.

Commenting on the very special car, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, Nick Whale, said: “Any fan of the legendary ‘Group A' Touring Car era needs to see this car to truly appreciate both its originality and splendid collector status. Without question, one of the lowest mileage examples one could ever find on the market today. We welcome any pre-sale inspections on this unique vehicle and are certain you’ll agree that this incredible homologation special would be a welcome contender at any Concours event around the world.”

Twenty-five years ago, the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II thrilled visitors when it was unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show. Legend has it that the limited run of 502 cars were sold pre-launch, possibly being squirrelled away by international car collectors. The bitter rivalry between BMW and Mercedes-Benz in saloon car racing at the time throughout Europe helped hone the greatest touring cars of the era. The Evo II had to win against one of the best touring cars of all time, the E30 M3. Compromise was out of the question and the touring car, developed for Group A racing using this sports saloon as a basis, went on to acquire legendary status. Mercedes-Benz took the first three places in the DTM championship in the 1992 season with this vehicle, which was referred to succinctly as the "Evo II".

Nick added: "The fact that the Evo II was a product of the ultra-conservative world of early nineties Mercedes-Benz is even more incredible. Its ostentatious body kit and impressive performance figures make it a showpiece of any serious classic car collection.”