In the second episode of the Classic Driver Talks podcast, J.P. Rathgen sits down with one of the most influential figures in the collector car world: Simon Kidston. Renowned as an independent broker, advisor, historian, and commentator, Kidston has spent decades operating at the very pinnacle of the classic car market. Born into a family steeped in British motorsport lore — his father, Commander Home Kidston, was an avid car racer, and his uncle was the legendary 1920s "Bentley Boy" Glen Kidston — and raised between Italy and Switzerland, his passion for exceptional automobiles evolved into a career defined by landmark auctions, discreet private transactions, and an unparalleled understanding of automotive provenance, rarity, and value. From co-founding Brooks Europe to establishing his own advisory firm, Kidston has become the trusted confidant behind some of the most significant collector car deals ever completed.
Beyond the world of high-value transactions — including the record-breaking €135 million sale of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé — Simon Kidston has played a defining role in shaping the collector narratives around icons such as the Lamborghini Miura and the McLaren F1. As an author, filmmaker, concours judge, and the unmistakable voice of Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, he combines deep scholarship with a lifelong enthusiasm for the machines and personalities that have shaped automotive history. In conversation with J.P. Rathgen, Kidston reflects on the evolution of the collector car market, the stories behind the world's most coveted automobiles, the question of how to perfectly spec a Miura and what continues to drive his passion for preserving and celebrating motoring heritage.
