Every year, the scene of unique automobiles meets in Cernobbio, on the shores of Lake Como, for the Concorso d`Eleganza in the Villa d`Este.
From May 25 to 26, 2019, the competition was held under the motto: "The Symphony of Engines - 90 Years of Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este and BMW Automobiles".
Debut 90 years ago
The Concorso made its debut on September 1, 1929, at that time of course with the latest vehicles, and quickly became the most important event of its kind in Italy. Even back then, beauty contests for elegant body shapes were very popular. At that time, there were many car bodies that were only produced in very small numbers, sometimes only to order.
These beauty contests were therefore a special showcase of contemporary coachwork art. Italy has always been regarded as the motherland of coachbuilding. In 1929, the first ever Coppa d`Oro Villa d`Este went to the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Flying Star.
Another Italian winner
For the sixth time in a row in modern times, an Italian car has won the world-famous Concorso d`Eleganza. American collector David Sydorick brought the majestic Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B to Lake Como. The car was built by Touring in Milan in 1937 and has now been restored to the highest standard.
After the public had already awarded the traditional "Coppa d'Oro" to the 8-cylinder twin-compressor on Saturday, the decision of the international jury followed on Sunday evening with the coveted "Best of Show" award.
Thunderstorm over the Villa d'Este
While in previous years the weather had mostly shown its friendly and sunny side, on Saturday a heavy thunderstorm surprised the parade in front of the Villa d'Este. The motorcyclists were lucky and were able to present their two-wheelers to the public in dry conditions.
However, the first heavy drops fell from the sky as the cars took off. In no time at all, the numerous spectators, well-dressed as always, disappeared in the direction of the hotel. What remained was an empty and soon wet garden restaurant. The empty glasses were quickly refilled, albeit only with water.
All the onlookers crowded under the small canopy, where the entire program was performed without a break.
The sound makes the music
The symphony of all the many cylinders and compressors at high revs was an enrichment. A good sound simply belongs to the car, like an egg to a chicken. The fact that a 12-cylinder won the race was probably pretty clear in advance.
The Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione won the "Trofeo dell'Anniversario" for the best sound. However, the sound quality of the small CD Panhard LM 64 with its 848 cc two-cylinder engine was also impressive, but in the end it didn't stand a chance against the Ferrari baritone. This special prize certainly has a future, as the audience showed its enthusiasm with a standing ovation.
With the power of the gyro
The two-wheeled Giro-X from 1967 must be mentioned as a very special car. Alex Tremulis, head of the Ford Advanced Styling Studio, and inventor Tom Summers once devised a simple solution for congested metropolitan areas: Doubling traffic capacity by using half-width cars. Unfortunately, the realization of a two-wheeler with a gyro stabilizer turned out to be much less simple than expected.
The 4.65 m long, single-seater Gyro-X prototype runs under its own power. However, the technical problems could not be overcome for practical use by customers. And so no millions of Giro-Xs were built, just this one. At some point, the bizarre cigar ended up as a tricycle in La Vegas. In 2011, Jeff Lane bought the remains.
The original Mini Cooper S 1275 drive unit, which was supposed to be capable of 200 km/h, was quickly procured. But the reconstruction of the missing balancing technology demanded everything from the technicians at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Today, the Giro-X is the only functioning gyroscope car in the world.
A lifelong dream come true
The most emotional story of the weekend, however, was delivered by the 1938 Lancia Astura. This interesting car in transition between two eras reflects some details of the pre-war era, while others, such as the rear end, already point towards the 1950s. The solution to the mystery is simple, as Pinin Farina received the chassis as early as 1938, but the bodywork could not be completed due to the war. The work was not completed until 1947.
Filippo Sole's childhood dream was to take part in the Concorso d'Eleganza. With this Lancia, it was to become a reality.
But the unrestored car was already so expensive that Sole himself had to sell his everyday car in order to acquire this car. In order to finance the unavoidable restoration, he worked on it himself and took out a loan to make ends meet. In the end, it was done and nothing stood in the way of participation.
And the fairytale even had a happy ending with the "Trofeo BMW Group Italia". Filippo Sole accepted the long-awaited prize with tears in his eyes.
Expensive and rare
The Abarth 205 Sport 1100 was launched by Carlo Abarth in 1950 and at the time cost more than a Ferrari 166 with a V12 engine, which is probably why only three examples were built.
Even rarer, because it was unique, was the concept car that won the H class.
The Lamborghini Marzal was the inspiration for the four-seater Lamborghini Espada, which then had to do without the gullwing doors and the transverse mid-engine.
Musical cars
The "Musical Stars`Cars" category featured cars of famous singers, above all Elvis Presley's BMW 507, now black again, and Elton John's Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
The Porsche 959, the ex-car of star conductor Herbert von Karajan, also came from the famous music scene.
However, a Lamborghini Miura took home the victory in this class.
Participants and prizes
| Class/No | Car | Year | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A02 | Vauxhall 30/98 Type OE | 1925 | Class winner |
| A04 | Minerva Type AF Hibbard et Darrin | 1928 | |
| A06 | Lancia Lambda Series VIII | 1928 | Honorary mention, Trofeo FIVA (best preserved pre-war) |
| A08 | Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super Sport | 1928 | |
| A10 | Rolls-Royce 20 H.P. Barker & Co. | 1929 | |
| A12 | Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider Zagato | 1930 | |
| B14 | Rolls-Royce 40 / 50 H.P. Silver Ghost Torpedo Phaeton Kellner | 1914 | Trofeo Rolls-Royce (most elegant RR) |
| B16 | Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Cabriolet Antem | 1936 | |
| B18 | Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A | 1936 | |
| B20 | Bugatti 57 S Sports Tourer Vanden Plas | 1937 | Honorary mention, Trofeo BMW Group Classic (most sensive restoration) |
| B22 | Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta Touring | 1937 | Best of Show, Coppo d'Oro (audience award), class winner |
| B24 | Delahaye 135M Roadster Carlton | 1938 | |
| B26 | Lancia Astura Series IV Cabriolet Pinin Farina | 1938 | Trofeo BMW Group Italia (visitors' choice) |
| B28 | Lagonda V12 Redfern Tourer DHC Maltby | 1939 | |
| C30 | Maserati A6G / 2000 Coupé Frua | 1952 | |
| C32 | Abarth 205 Sport 1100 Berlinetta Ghia | 1953 | Honorary mention |
| C34 | Siata 300 BC Barchetta Bertone | 1953 | |
| C36 | Fiat 1200 Spyder | 1958 | |
| C38 | Austin Seven 850 Beach Car | 1960 | |
| C40 | Abarth Monomille GT Coupé Sibona-Basano | 1963 | Class winner |
| C42 | Seat Nardi 750 GT | 1964 | |
| D44 | Ferrari 342 America Vignale | 1952 | |
| D46 | Jaguar XK 120 Supersonic Ghia | 1952 | |
| D48 | Siata 208 S Motto | 1953 | Honorary mention |
| D50 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL | 1954 | Class winner |
| D52 | Alfa Romeo 1900 Super Sprint "La Flèche" Vignale | 1955 | |
| D54 | Ferrari 250 GT Competizione Berlinetta Pinin Farina | 1955 | Honorary mention |
| D56 | BMW 507 | 1959 | |
| E60 | Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB Competizione | 1960 | |
| E62 | Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato | 1961 | |
| E64 | Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder SWB | 1961 | Class winner |
| E66 | Aston Martin DBS C Touring | 1966 | |
| E68 | Ferrari 275 GTB/4 | 1967 | |
| F70 | BMW 507 | 1957 | |
| F72 | Bizzarrini GT Strada 5300 | 1966 | |
| F74 | Maserati Mistral 4000 Spider | 1966 | Trofeo Automobile Club Como (longest journey) |
| F76 | Lamborghini Miura P 400 S | 1971 | Class winner |
| F78 | Aston Martin V8 Vantage | 1985 | |
| F80 | Porsche 959 | 1988 | Honorary mention |
| G82 | Ferrari 166 Mille Miglia Barchetta Touring | 1949 | Class winner |
| G84 | Ferrari 340 America Berlinetta Touring | 1951 | |
| G86 | Osca MT4 1450 Barchetta Frua | 1953 | Honorary mention |
| G88 | Osca MT4 1500 Barchetta Moretti | 1955 | |
| G92 | CD Panhard LM 64 Coupé Aérodynamique Chappe et Gessalin | 1964 | Trofeo ASI (best preserved post-war) |
| G96 | Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione | 1966 | Trofeo Vranken Pommery (most iconic car), Trofeo Dell'Anniversario (best engine sound) |
| H98 | Vivant 77 | 1965 | Honorary mention |
| H100 | Lamborghini Marzal | 1967 | Class winner, Trofeo BMW Group Ragazzi (public vote up to 16 years old) |
| H102 | Gyro- X | 1967 | |
| H104 | Ferrari 512 S Modulo | 1970 | Trofeo Auto & Design (most exciting design) |
