The annual exhibition of rare, classic, and contemporary cars along the shore of Lake Como never disappoints. If there were a theme to this year’s Concorso, it would be “original”…original designs, original condition, and an original overall winner.
Italian autos dominated the Concours competition and in an international lineup of green, blue, and brown cars, the red 1957 Ferrari stood out. This chassis finished second in the tragic 1957 Mille Miglia, and was reconfigured as a racer for both Juan Manuel Fangio and Sir Stirling Moss. A replica of this car was built for the recent Ferrari movie. The original was awarded the Trofeo dei Presidenti (Presidents’ Trophy) at Villa d’Este.
73 years after this 1952 Ferrari 225 S Tuboscocca (Tubular Body) was built, it looks essentially the same. The car has never been fully restored and still wears the original unmodified coupé body built by Carrozzeria Vignale. Only seven of these Italian beauties were ever produced by Ferrari.
This Alfa Romeo was the oldest car in competition at the Concorso. The 1922 Alfa RL Sport was the first all-new model produced by the company after the Great War, and was raced by Alfa works driver Enzo Ferrari.
BMW built only 252 of the model 507 Touring Sport cars between 1956 and 1960 (one went to Elvis Presley), but only 14 of the model run were produced in Old Ivory White. BMW lost money on every 507 made because production costs were far too high.
If James Bond retired from Her Majesty’s Secret Service, moved to the suburbs, and started a family…he’d probably drive something like this: A 1966 Aston Martin “Shooting Brake ” DB5, created for Aston Martin owner Sir David Brown so he could transport his hunting gear and his dog in one of his company’s cars.
All eyes were on this stunning 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, in the marque’s traditional Mid-Metallic Green color. Only 19 of these aluminum-bodied Zagato cars were produced.
Bentley entered three cars, affectionately known as Witch, Snitch, and Bitch, in the 1927 24 Hours of Le Mans. As night fell, all three crashed at Le Mans’ “White House” chicane. Bitch limped back to the pits, driver Sammy Davis did his best to get the car back into the race, and after weaving his way through the field, Bitch crossed the finish line first…one of just eight cars to complete the Le Mans race in 1927. The car has been restored to its original ’27 Le Mans configuration, featuring the original dashboard, racing instruments, and the authentic battle-worn fuel tank.
The jury at the Concorso d’Eleganza…10 men and three women, all automotive experts…had the incredibly tough task of separating the best from the rest at Villa d’Este, scrutinizing every detail of every entry. You could spot them by their white hats and hushed conversations that determined the various class winners.
51 classic and contemporary cars were in competition at the Concorso, and at the end of it all this 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 was chosen Best of Show, the first time a conserved car has ever won the honor at Villa d’Este. This French blue car was regularly raced in the 1930s, then hidden in a chateau during the war. It remained in the same family for nearly eight decades, and while it has been mechanically rebuilt, it still shows the original patina from the ‘30s.
