Simon Home Kidston (born September 1967) is a British classic car dealer, collector, commentator and journalist.
Simon Kidston | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1967 (age 57) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Aiglon College |
| Occupation | classic car dealer |
| Spouse | Rosie Kidston |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | Home Kidston |
| Relatives | Glen Kidston (uncle) Cath Kidston (cousin) |
Kidston has built a reputation as one of the leading international dealers in blue-chip collector cars,[1] with clients including Ralph Lauren, Ferrari collector Jean-Pierre Slavic and designer Marc Newson.[2]
Early life
editKidston was born in September 1967,[3] the son of Commander Home Kidston, a retired naval officer who owned and raced cars.[4] His uncle was Bentley Boy Glen Kidston, the record-breaking aviator and motor racing driver.[4] His cousin is the fashion designer and businesswoman Cath Kidston.
Kidston grew up near Siena, Italy and was educated in Switzerland. He attended Aiglon College from 1981 to 1985.[5][6]
Career
editKidston started his career in 1988 in the car auction department at Coys of Kensington.[7]
In 1996, he left to co-found Brooks Europe auction house in Geneva. He created high-profile events such as the annual Ferrari auction in Gstaad[8] and the Pur Sang à Longchamp auction in Paris.[9] From 1996–2006 he was President of Brooks Europe, which later became Bonhams Europe.[10]
In 2006, Kidston left Bonhams to start Kidston SA in Geneva, an independent advisory firm for motor car collectors.[10] In 2018, Kidston opened a new office in Dubai: Kidston DMCC.[11]
Other roles
editKidston is a magazine contributor, writing columns for 'Classic Cars' and 'Sports Car Market'. He is also a guest contributor at Vanity Fair, Top Gear and Dubai Lifestyle Magazine.[12]
Kidston is head judge of the Cartier Travel With Style Concours in India[13] and an advisor to BMW Classic, the organisers of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, set up in 1929.[14] Between 2007–2014, he was commentator for the Mille Miglia historic rally.[15][16]
Personal life
editKidston is an avid car collector, with his collection including a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Cabriolet originally built for his father.[17] Kidston buys back vehicles his family previously owned, including a Gipsy Moth racing biplane his father flew in New Zealand 75 years prior.[18]
In 2009, Kidston was invited by the Mercedes-Benz Museum to drive the 300 SLR 'Uhlenhaut' coupe.[19][20]
He splits his time between Dubai, London, Milan and Geneva, and is fluent in Italian and French.[11]
References
edit- ^ "A night out in Knightsbridge with Simon Kidston and his Monteverdi". www.classicdriver.com. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ Mahony, Emma (25 November 2011). "Fast cars and fine wine". Financial Times. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Simon Home KIDSTON - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)".
- ^ a b "Kidston - Info".
- ^ "Registration List: Aiglon's 65th Anniversary Celebration". Aiglon Life. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Remembering Philip Parsons". Aiglon School. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "A night out in Knightsbridge with Simon Kidston and his Monteverdi". www.classicdriver.com. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ "Gstaad Auction - Story". www.barchetta.cc.
- ^ "Kidston - The Company". www.kidston.com.
- ^ a b "Simon Kidston: 'In 2050 people will still collect cars' - newmobility.news". newmobility.news. 27 April 2018.
- ^ a b "simon kidston". therake.com.
- ^ www.januar.ch, Januar Designbureau GmbH. "Le Monde Edmond: Kidston: A 'heavyweight' speaks his mind". le-monde-edmond.com. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Kidston - Home" (PDF). www.kidston.com.
- ^ "Simon Kidston, The Voice of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2017 - Live Trading News". 8 May 2017.
- ^ Mille Miglia Storica 2010 | Classic Driver Magazine
- ^ Barlow, Jason. "We came dead last in the Mille Miglia".
- ^ Kahn, Jeremy (27 November 2015). "25 of the world's most bankable cars". Executive Style. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Kidston - The Company". www.kidston.com. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ Precious mettle | Motor Sport Magazine Archive
- ^ "Kidston - Features". www.kidston.com.