There was an incredible amount going on between Como and Cernobbio on the weekend of May 23-25, 2025. The weather played along with sunshine and pleasant temperatures.
Anyone who says that today's young people no longer have a penchant for old cars was proved wrong. A huge number of car spotters to the left and right of the road photographed the very special cars that thundered past them.
The police had their hands full, but were well disposed towards the spectacle and enjoyed the whole affair themselves. Just as it should be everywhere!
Amici & Automobile - Wheels & Weisswürscht
It wasn't just high-priced exhibits that were on display, there was also a lot in the lower segment that came to Lake Como, with many BMW enthusiasts gathering in the Villa d'Erba park on Saturday for "Amici & Automobile - Wheels & Weisswürscht". The tuning scene was also on site and presented itself according to the motto "Lower is always possible"!
On Saturday, fans of legendary automobiles and numerous enthusiasts from BMW automobile clubs and other brands from northern and central Europe came together in the extensive park of Villa Erba. An impressive exhibition of various BMW 3 Series models of all generations celebrated the 50th anniversary of the legendary model series.
The event was followed by an independent auction of BMW models by Broad Arrow Auctions , celebrating the brand's rich history from the first BMW 328 and BMW 507 to the dynamic BMW M models of today.
Grande Casino
On Sunday morning, as the Concorso cars moved from Villa d'Este to Villa d'Erba, thousands of fans lined both sides of the street to cheer on the icons of automotive history. Red cars heightened their emotions immeasurably. The spectator day had been sold out for weeks and there was no end to the queue at the Villa Erba gate. The great love for old metal inspired everyone involved.
On the same day, over 50 super classics were also auctioned off at Broad Arrow as a continuation of Saturday's BMW auction.
.... and the Winner is....
In the end, the 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B (P3) was a deserving winner, taking the title of "Best of Show". Historically speaking, the model was not just any racing car - it was a ground-breaking machine that completely redefined the concept of the Grand Prix racing car.
The car was designed by the ingenious Vittorio Jano and was one of the very first true monopostos.
On Sunday, the Auriga Collection vehicle from Germany received the prestigious "Trofeo BMW Group - Best of Show" award.
The award was presented by Helmut Käs, Head of BMW Group Classic and President of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este and Wilhelm Schmid, CEO of A. Lange und Söhne. In addition to the trophy, there was also an exclusive watch from A. Lange und Söhne, which was specially created for the winner of the "Best of Show".
Audience Award for BMW 507
The "Trofeo Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este", the winner of which is selected by public vote, was chosen on Saturday evening and was won by the BMW 507 from 1957. Its sleek and superbly balanced body design combined with a 3.2-liter V8 engine make it an icon of automotive engineering.
The roadster, which is now one of the most famous BMW classics and was presented by Dirk de Groen from the United States of America, received the most votes from visitors.
Young people also came to vote
The very young fan community was also involved and was allowed to vote for their own favorite. The prize went to the study of the Alfa-Romeo 8C DoppiaCoda by Zagato.
Well chosen!
Exotic and certainly very special
In 1967, a car was presented to the public in Turin that, 58 years later, still attracted everyone's attention. Young and old stood there and marveled at the strange thing and the first question was, where is the engine? Good question!
The creation is called Bisiluro Silver Fox, which means "double torpedo silver fox". The idea came from Piero Taruffi, who has experimented a lot with this type of double hull concept.
The 1000cc four-cylinder Renault engine tuned by Alpine is installed in the left fuselage behind the passenger and at an angle, as the gearbox is in the middle.
The appearance is reminiscent of a catamaran, the two hulls are connected by three wings next to the driver's cabin. The first spoiler in the front can be adjusted when stationary, the middle one can also be adjusted while driving, while the last one is fixed due to the built-in gearbox. With these three wings, the downforce of the vehicle can be determined manually. The seating position may take some getting used to, but at least the cockpit is open for conversations with the co-driver.
Give and take
At the end of the successful four-hour parade on Sunday, Helmut Käs (Head of BMW Group Classic and President of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este) and Massimiliano di Silvestre (President of BMW Italy) presented the proceeds from ticket sales on Saturday and an additional amount from BMW Group Classic as a donation to Matteo Monti (Mayor of Cernobbio) for two kindergartens in the town of Cernobbio.
Comments on the event
"The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este offers a unique opportunity to highlight the enduring fascination of mobility and to create a seamless link between the historic past of the automobile and its present and future versions. We believe that this event is not only about exclusivity, but first and foremost about offering an unforgettable experience to all enthusiasts of historic automobiles during our public days," explains Helmut Käs (Head of BMW Group Classic and President of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este).
"Villa d'Este has been the custodian of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este since 1929, an event that combines tradition and timeless elegance with class, design and technology in a uniquely inspiring setting. The success of the event year after year lies in the unique vehicles presented here, but also in the emotions and passion shared by generations of car enthusiasts. We are grateful to the BMW Group for the many years of cooperation and look forward to many more unforgettable events," says Davide Bertilaccio (CEO Villa d'Este Hotels).
Looking back
The Concorso celebrated its premiere on September 1, 1929 with 80 participants (today there were 59 cars to choose from). In contrast to today, the Coppa d`Oro Villa d`Este was awarded to outstanding new models. The Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 won the prize in 1949 and is still the only car to bear the name Villa d`Este in its model designation.
The event came to an end in 1949. In 1986 there was a one-off relaunch and from 1995 the thread was picked up again with a new concept. In 2000, BMW finally took over the patronage of the event.
Class winners and honorary mentions 2025
- Class A: Glorious Excess: The Evolution of the 'Money no Object' Motor Car, 1920-1940
Class Winner: Duesenberg SJ, Sweep Panel Dual Cowl Phaeton, La Grande, 1933, Thomas Maoli, United States.
Mention of Honor : Duesenberg J, Sports Sedan, Weymann American, 1929, Donald Ghareeb, United States. - Class B: Sculpture in Motion: The Decade of the automotive Arms Race, 1928-1938
Class Winner : Alfa Romeo Tipo B (P3), Monoposto da Gran Premio, Alfa Romeo, 1934, Auriga Collection, Germany.
Mention of Honor: Bugatti Type 59, Roadster, Bugatti, 1933, Gregory Manocherian, United States. - Class C: Renaissance: The Post-War European Sports Car comes of Age
Class Winner : Ferrari 212 Export, Cabriolet Vignale, 1951, Michael Weisberg, United States.
Mention of Honor : Ferrari 275 GTB, Coupé, Ferrari, 1965, Christopher Stahl, Germany. - Class D: Titans of the Track: When the Boss says "Let's race!"
Class Winner : Ferrari 250 Monza, Barchetta, Scaglietti, 1954, Giuseppe Prevosti, Italy.
Mention of Honor : Ferrari 121LM, Racing Spyder, Scaglietti, 1954, Elad Shraga, United Kingdom. - Class E: Frozen in Time: Preservation 'Time Capsules' from 1900-1973 which have survived in unrestored State
Class Winner : Ferrari 330 GTC, Two Seater Coupé, Pininfarina, 1967, Tony Owen, United States.
Mention of Honor: Dino 206 GT, Coupé, Scaglietti, 1968, Fabio Colombo, Italy. - Class F: "Go Big or Go Home": Automotive Excess of the '80s to the new Millennium, when nothing seemed too fast, expensive or bold Class Winner : Bugatti EB 110 GT, Coupé, Bugatti, 1993, Maurizio De Angelis, Italy.
Mention of Honor : Ferrari F40 GTE, Berlinetta, Michelotto, 1995, Chad Williams, United States. - Class G: Vanishing act: Gone but proudly not forgotten
Class Winner: Talbot Lago T 26 Grand Sport, Fastback Coupé, Saoutchik, 1948, Robert Kudela, Czechia.
Mention of Honor: Siata 208 CS, Spider Corsa, Bertone, 1952, Nikolay Miroshnichenko, Monaco. - Class H: Style matters: Opulence meets Elegance before Times change forever
Class Winner : Ferrari 410 Superamerica, Coupé, Pininfarina, 1959, Sam Lombardo, United States.
Mention of Honor : Mercedes-Benz 300 SC, Coupé, Mercedes-Benz, 1957, Vin DiBona, United States.
