Can this car be revived?
05/22/2016
Villa d'Este organizer BMW had set itself a difficult task. For the Concorso d'Eleganza, the BMW 2002 turbo was resurrected as an "homage".
Unlike the earlier homages, however, an existing base was chosen for the 2002, which would not make series production impossible.
Accordingly, the 2-series 2002 turbo hommage was the inspiration and was in the spotlight for the first time at the press premiere on Friday evening and on the Concorso catwalk yesterday, Saturday.
Whether the fans of the 2002 will accept the hommage as its "successor" is an open question. It has to be said, however, that the result certainly looks "smart" and the 2-series could well be seen as a modern 2002.
However, the focus yesterday at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este was, of course, on the old cars. Finally, the Coppa d'Oro audience award was presented.
This was not awarded to the impressive and original Porsche 550 Spyder with Michael May wing, built in the mid-fifties, around 10 years before the Formula 1 designers came up with a similar idea. And so fast at the time that the competition had it banned.
However, the public chose the Lancia Astura Series II from 1933, equipped with a V8 engine of 2973 cm3, as the most beautiful.
The public made a good choice, because the Lancia with the elegant, teardrop-shaped Castagna bodywork was already shown at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 1935, just five weeks after the start of the 24-hour race in Pescara.
We will of course be publishing a full report on this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este shortly. Today, Sunday, the class prizes and the "Best of Show" prize will be awarded. During the day, the cars can be viewed by the public at Villa Erba.
