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The magnificent tradition of the Villa d’Este Concours d’Elégance, whose heyday was between 1929 and 1949, lives unaltered in the modern revival of the stylish event linked inextricably to the history of the automobile. Since 1997 the German car manufacturer BMW is main sponsor of the Concours and Dottore Jean-Marc Droulers, the hotel owner, promotor, mentor and organizer, assisted by Urs Paul Ramseier (of the Swiss Ramseier coachworks), assembled about fifty exceptional automobiles plus many concept cars and prototypes on the lakeshore of Lago di Como. President and chairman of the jury was Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni, the very mind and soul of CarrozzeriaTouring. Among the jury members were automotive publisher Shotaro Kobayashi from Japan, Patrick Le Quément (Renault Design Director), Charles Lord March (Goodwood), Dr. Lorenzo Ramaciotti (vice-president of the Concours and head of Pininfarina), Jürgen Lewandowski (German classic car authority) and secretary Carlo Otto Brambilla (Italy). Among the many aesthetic masterpieces displayed this year were also six Ferraris. NY real estate tycoon and Ferrari collector Peter S. Kalikow with his blue Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet chassis #2331 SA won the Pininfarina Award for the most elegant Pininfarina bodied car. This is the March 1961 Geneva motor show car, originally painted metallic white and the first owner was Dr. Fortunato Gosce of Milan. His name is attached to many Ferraris of the era, and it is presumed he was one of the factory’s favored customers. Kalikow had the car airfreighted from New York to Europe by Martin Button’s Cosdel and in addition had a crew of several people flown to Italy, especially for the Concours weekend. This naturally included top restorer David Carte from Virginia and Kalikow’s collection curator Mark Aglora. Two of Italian’s most famous Ferrari restorers, Dino Cognolato from Padova and Egidio Brandoli of Montale, admired the blue car and asked many questions about the stunning automobile. The Villa d'Este Concours d'Elégance Design Award went to Pininfarina for their spectacular red Ferrari Rossa Prototype. This concept car is based on the 550 Maranello. The 1960-1970 Cabriolet Class D was won by German collector Hermann Fries of Munich with his gunmetalgrey Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider #3021 GT. This car was originally owned by French writer and novelist Françoise Sagan. Then followed the sensational 1956 type 250 GT LWB Berlinetta with Zagato coachwork. This is one of only three such cars with the typical double-bubble roof, a trademark of Carrozzeria Zagato. Chassis number 0515 GT was raced in the late 1950s by Scuderia Sant’Ambroeus president Vladimiro Galluzzi and is owned today by David and Ginny Sydorick from Beverly Hills/CA. The Sydoricks won the Corrado Millanta Press Award for their beautiful darkblue Ferrari with the white top. A further Ferrari at the show was a freshly restored 275 GTS Spider from Switzerland. Originally painted white with a black interior, it is now also painted gunmetal grey with a tobacco interior, a very interesting color combination. The oldest Ferrari at Villa d’Este 2003 was Piergiorgio Mastroenni’s ruby red 250 Europa GT Coupé with metallic grey roof. Two-tone paint jobs were typical in that era. The Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este (Gold Cup) went to John Bookout of Texas for his fabulous black Maserati A6G Berlinetta bodied by Frua. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is meant for cars representing the history of design and automobiles between 1920 and 1970. All of them, coming from 11 different countries, had to satisfy the strict criteria of conservation and restoration by FIVA standards (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens). The event began on Friday with the arrival and check-in at the Grand Hotel Villa d‘Este and a Tour through Lombardy. All the classic cars were then parked in the hotel garage and the inauguration dinner followed. Saturday was Concours day at Villa d’Este and not open to the public. Sunday followed the short transfer to the sensational Villa Erba, an architectural highlight right on the lakeshore in Cernobbio. The availability of magnificent grounds facing the lake and the exposition centre very much enhanced the show and attracted a big crowd during the perfectly sunny Sunday. In the afternoon followed the long-awaited parade of the cars through the gardens of Villa Erba with the awards ceremony of the class winners, wonderfully orchestrated by Simon Kidston, president of Bonhams Europe. Sunday was then concluded with a black tie gala dinner at Villa d’Este and the award ceremony for the BMW Trophy. The Concours weekend also included a special exhibit of BMW M1s, a homage to Andy Warhol, and a celebration of 35 years of Italdesign and Giugiaro. Ever since the first Concours d’Elégance held at Villa d’Este in September 1929, the event has continued to attract considerable interest. The appeal of the event is still on its peerless tradition and its original format is perfect for a select group of connoisseurs, enthusiasts and experts. The date for next year’s Concours at Villa d’Este has already been communicated: 23-25 April 2004. It is a must for every automobile enthusiast. Ferraris at Villa d'Este:
© Marcel Massini 28/04/2003
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Once
again the renowned Concours d’Elégance was held at the marvellous
Grand Hotel Villa d’Este in Cernobbio on Lake Como, Italy. This
weekend for friends and lovers of classic cars took place from 25 to 27
April 2003.
