An enchanted atmosphere sourrounds the Como Lake in this sunny spring weekend, for two days of elegance and beauty in one of the most impressive automotive event of the year.
We are far from the halls of the exhibition grounds where they are often exposed valuable vintage cars. Elegance is actually the key word to repeat, starting from the public, composed by car entustiasts and experts of classic cars, for the place, two splendid villas of the late nineteenth century, to finally get to the true stars of these days.
Villa d’Este and Villa Erba welcome in their gardens the most beautiful cars of all time, ready to be evaluated by a jury of experts that will award the most elegant of them. The contest in Villa d’Este was celebrated for the first time in 1929, in the golden years of aristocratic cars.
The first edition saw 80 cars participate and a great interest of collectors and gave the award of excellence to an Isotta Fraschini 8A. Today, the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este is one of the most prestigious hotels in the world and offers visitors spectacular scenery on the shores of the Como Lake to admire at their best the cars in competition.
The event takes place on Saturday at Villa d’Este and at Villa Erba on Sunday, cars are divided into categories and judged by a team of experts led by President Lorenzo Ramacciotti that will award the BMW Group Trophy to the car that best expresses beauty and uniqueness.
Since 2002, in addition to the classic cars parade, there are also the concept cars, which compete for a prize apart. The event well combines the wonders of the past and the spectacular nature of the future. Behind the whole organization there is from a decade BMW Group that became partner with the event itself.
We were in awe of the splendor that has walked the red carpet in these days. For the classic car category the task of the jury was certainly not simple. The verdict awarded the golden cup to Ferrari 166MM, presented in 1948 and built in just 47 pieces.
The initials MM is the acronime of Mille Miglia, which won in 1949 driven by the couple Biondetti-Navone. In the same year it won the 12 Hours of Paris but also it was the first Ferrari to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Powered by a 12-cylinder V it was capable of delivering 140HP and push the car to over 220 km / h.
The model presented is currently owned by Clive Beecham, in 1950 had belonged to Gianni Agnelli, that’s why Lapo Elkann took place on the car during the parade.
For the concept car categry, to win the first place was the Bentley EXP Speed 6 10, front-engined rear-wheel drive supercar.
Stunning line for this english lady with no limits when it comes to luxury details, both external and internal, made with quality materials which shape a sporty and luxurious car at the same time. The mix of elegance and sportiness of this concept have certainly justified the first prize.
Really beautiful and attractive also appeared the concept BMW 3.0 CSL, a great example of successful remake of the Bavarian sports of 70s and 80s, in a modern and hi-tech version. What touch the most our hearts? Well, one can not be struck in front of the Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4.
Besides the classic parade of elegance, in villa Erba it was also held a rod, where a Ferrari 288 GTO of 1985 and an Enzo of 2002 were bought for six-figure incomes.
By: Leonardo Stefani, Edoardo Mascalchi
Photos: Edoardo Mascalchi