From Alfa to Sabrina - Impressions of the Concours d'Elégance Città di Lugano
05/15/2019
In glorious sunny weather on May 4, 2019, the first Concours d'Elégance of the city of Lugano in Piazza della Riforma and in the pedestrian zone attracted a great deal of interest from strolling tourists and specially arrived classic car fans.
The event was organized by the Monteceneri Lions Club, managed by Claudio Mosconi and Massimo Albertini.
The jury, some of whom were prominent figures (including Anneliese Abarth and Sandro Binelli) under the direction of Beat Walti (President), judged the consistently high-quality vehicles on the basis of the following criteria:
- Elegance and overall beauty or refinement in design, harmony of colors
- Elegance of the upholstery and trim parts
- Elegance and consistency of accessories and optional extras
- Originality (paintwork, interior, chrome, contemporary tuning, historical accessories)
As an alternative, a restoration that takes originality into account was considered in particular.
The range of participating vehicles was wide:
From pre-war cars (Bentley 4 1/4 Aerofill) to still relatively young classic cars (Ford Mustang), from limousines (Bentley R-Type) to (racing) sports cars (Nash-Healey Pininfarina Roadster), from one-offs (Steyr 220 from 1938) to popular/affordable examples (Fiat 124 Spider) and from icons (Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Vignale "la Fleche") to curiosities (Fiat 509 in "fish design"), there was practically everything to see.
The category winners were the Steyr 220 from 1938 in the pre-war open cars category, the Bentley 4 1/4 Aerofill Sports from 1937 in the pre-war closed cars category, the Lancia Aurelia B24S from 1955 in the post-war open cars category up to 1960, the Bentley R-Type from 1954 in the post-war closed cars category up to 1960, the Fiat 124 AS Sport Spider from 1968 in the open cars category, built between 1961 and 1980, and the Monteverdi 375 L Fissore from 1972 in the closed cars category from 1961 to 1980.
Two cars were named Best of Show (ex aequo), namely the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Castagna from 1930 and the Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Vignale "la flèche" from 1955 (picture at the top).
Anecdote in passing:
wife Anneliese Abarth was so impressed by the fact that Audrey Hepburn was chauffeured by Humphey Bogart in the participating Pininfarina Nash-Healey in the Billy Wilder film "Sabrina" that she took a seat in the car herself to have her photo taken in it.
