- Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2023 -

Index Villa d'Este 2023

Overview

See previous events :2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007

This year edition of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, a traditional beauty contest for classic cars was also defined by numerous celebratory moments. Two award classes were dedicated to impressive anniversaries of automobile culture with "Porsche at 75: Delving into the Stuttgart legend's iconic and eccentric back catalogues" and "A century of the 24 hours of Le Mans: Heroes of the most famous race in the world".

The event was organised into eight categories of historic automobiles that is:

1. Class A The Fast and the Formal: Pre-war high speed luxury
2. Class B Grande Vitesse: Pre-war Weekend Racers
3. Class C Incredible India: The dazzling Motoring Indulgences of the mighty Maharajas.
4. Class D Porsche at 75: Delving into the Stuttgart Legend's iconic and eccentric Back Catalogue
5. Class E Gran Turismo: Experimenting with post-war European GT
6. Class F The 'made in italy' Look: Styles which conquered the Worlds.
7. Class G A Century of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Heroes of the most famous Race in the World
8. Class H Here comes the Sun: 'Topless'done differently.

The following is a listing of the "Best of Show" as well as all Class winners and Mention of Honor vehicles in each Class completed when possible by other participants automobiles.

Trofeo BMW Group Best of Show by the Jury

Winner Duesenberg SJ Speedster Gurney Nutting 1935 introduced by William Lyon from United States

Duesenberg was a car manufacturing company initiated by Fred and August Düsenberg who had emigrated to the USA from Wesrphalia, Germany in 1880. They started business with bicycles and moved in 1919 to automobile with in-line eight cylinder engine. Successes in motor sport quicly made their name popular. The company positioned itself at the top end of the market with small series of exclusive models.

The crowning gloy came in 1932 with the extravagant SJ model. As much as 320 hp was available when the supercharger kicked in and this propelled the huge car to around 220 kph (140 mph). When Great Depression struck, any thought of commercial success came to a shuddering halt and Duesenberg delivered this last of just 36 SJ Duesenberg's built to John Gurney Nutting in London for them to cloak the chassis in a spectacular Boattail Speedster body.

Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este

Best of Show by Public Referendum

Winner: Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California Pininfarina-Scaglietti 1961 introduced by Keybridge Collection from Hong Kong.

see Car Review Ferrari 250 GT California Spider 1959 hard top

A total of 106 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder were produced of which 56 were of short wheelbase type and 37 of these short wheelbase spyders were equiped with covered headlamps and disc brakes all around. In 2012 at RM Auction in Monterey California, one such 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Spyder California was sold for US$ 8,850,000. Another 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder Scaglietti, with covered headlights, was sold for US $ 15,180,000 at Pebble Beach Gooding & Co Auction in 2014. At 2016 Amelia Island Gooding & Co Auction a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder Scaglietti with covered headlight was sold for US$ 17,160,000.

Concorso d'Eleganza Design Award

For Concept Cars & Prototypes by Public Referendum

Winner: Pagani Huayra Codalunga Coupé Longtail 2022

Exclusive five examples proposed, all sold out with price starting from 7 million Euros.

Class Winner: Chrysler Custom Imperial CL Convertible Sedan, LeBaron Carrossiers Inc. 1933 introduced by Jack Boyd Smith Jr., United States

Chrysler offered the Imperial as a top of the line model that reflected the aspirations of the world's elite. The spectacularly long convertible body was styled by LeBaron in Detroit. Only 50 of these cars were produced, with 32 of them wearing the more modern front end from 1933.

Mention of Honor: Lagonda V12 Rapide, Drophead Coupé, James Young 1938 introduced by Adrian Burr, Great Britain

The powerplant behind the Lagonda engine presented in 1936 was an engine W.O. Bentley had already designed with his own company in mind. Bentley had developed it after his firm was taken over by Rolls-Royce so he was only able to create it for Lagonda. Given that engines had only ever been purchased from Henry Meadows, Lagonda was looking for a pathway to obtain a foothold at the top of the range. The new twelve cylinder engine was mounted in chassis with three diffrent wheelbases and proved the be the masterpiece by W.O. Bentley. Out of a total of around 190 V12 chassis built, only 17 were delivered in Rapide specification and only two examples of the entire V12 production were styled as a Drophead Coupé by James Young.

Class A: Lancia Astura 4th Series Cabriolet Pininfarina 1937 introduced by Collection D'Ieteren, Belgium

Lancia was preceded by an outstanding reputation in the 1930s. The models were regarded as being distinguished by superlative quality, while also featuring highly innovative technology. When the Astura was unveiled in 1931 at the Paris Salon, Lancia was targeting wealthy customers who had the wherewithal to select a carrossier to match their extravagant predilections. This particular Lancia Astura was given the impressively representative convertible body by Pininfarina in Turin.

Class A: Alvis Speed 25 SC Open Tourer Olford & Sons 1937 introduced by James Sprague from United States

Trofeo Automobile Club Como for the car driven from farthest away

The technical platform was created by Alvis, while the design of the luxurious bodywork is by Olford & Sons coachbuilder and supplier to the Royal Court established in London in 1791.

Class A: Piccard-Pictet-R2 Torpedo Ponté Jacques Saoutchik 1920 introduced by Fondation des Archives de la Famille Pictet Switzerland

Geneva in Switzerland is not just famous in automobile business. PicPic was headquartered in Geneva, it is the short for the studios Piccard-Pictt & Cie SA. The begining of the company go back to 1905 when it undertook production under license to very high standard of quality. After the First World War Pic-Pic started production of luxury automobiles. The R2 model was famous for its technical concepts with high-revving valveless engines operating with sliding sleeves that rotated rather than going up and down; it used the Burt-McCollum system rather tha the Knight's license. The R2 was given an elegant Torpedo-Ponté body by the French coachbuilder Saoutchik. This car is one of eight examples completed.

Class B: Grande Vitesse: Pre-war Weekend Racers

Class Winner: Delahaye 145 Coupé Chapron 1938 introduced by Peter and Merle Mullin from United States

see Car Review Delahaye 145 Coupe Chapron 1937

Mention of Honour: BMW 328 Roadster 1937 introduced by The May Collection Germany

see Car Review BMW 328 roadster 1937

Class B: Mercedes Benz 680S Sport 4 1928 introduced by Hans Peter Fricke Germany

see also Car Review Mercedes Benz 680S torpedo roadster Saoutchik 1928

Class B: Lancia Lambda 5th Series Carrozzeria Casaro 1924 introduced by Anthony McLean Switzerland

see Car Review Lancia Lambda 1922 1931

Class B: Bugatti Type 57S Open Two Seater Sports Corsica 1936 introduced by Nigel Corner from United Kingdom

Between 1933 and the outbreak of the war, the Type 57 was the only production vehicle from Bugatti. The 3.3 Litre engine also provided the powerplant for the Type 59-which went down in history as the last racing car from Bugatti. At the Paris Auto Salon in 1935, Jean Bugatti launched his masterpiece with the presentation of the Type 57S. He unveiled an aerodynamically streamlined coupé body-the Atlantic. The chassis was optimised both for racing campaigns and for road trips speeding along country avenues. Everything about the 57S model was directed towards high speed. The in-line eight cylinder engine tuned to generate power offered higher compression and dry-sump lubrication while the shortened, emphatically low-slung frame was fitted with De Ram shock absorbers.

Bugatti produced a total of 40 Type 57S roadsters between 1936 and 1938. The roadster presented here was given its coachwork at the eponymous coachbuilder located in London's Corsica Road.

CLASS C: Incredible India: The dazzling Motoring indulgence of the mighty Maharajas

Class winner: Duesenberg SJ Speedster Gurney Nutting 1935 introduced by William Lyon frm United States see also Best of Show by the Jury

Class C Mention of Honour: Rolls Royce Sports Phantom Experimental Prototype -Jarvis of Wimbledon-1928 introduced by Alexander Schauffler from Austria

Trofeo Rolls Royce for the most elegant Rolls Royce by the Jury

see also Car Review Rolls Royce Phantom I 17-EX Experimental Open Tourer 1928

Class C : Packard Standard Eight 11th Series Seven Seater Tourer Dietrich 1934 introduced by Rajiv Kehr from India

Packard delivered this Standard Eight to the Maharaja of Nawalgarth in 1934. Its powerful 5.2 Litre eight cylinder engine delivered 120hp. The car is equiped with a standard body from Dietrich.

Class C: Rolls Royce Silver Wraith Drophead Coupe James Young 1949 introduced by Yohan Pounawallafrom India

Trofeo BMW Group Classic for the most sensitive restoration by the Jury

Class D Porsche at 75: Delving into the Stuttgart Legend's iconic and eccentric Back Catalogue

Class Winner: Porsche 901 Prototyp "Quickblau" coupé Karmann 1963 introduced by Alois Ruf from Germany

Trofeo Vranken-Pommery for the best iconic car by the Jury

Class D : Mention of Honour Porsche 356 Pre-A Cabriolet Reutter 1954 introduced by Al Barbour from United States

The Porsche 356 was a great success because of its lightweight construction and reliable air-cooled 1500 cc boxer engine. It proved enormousely fuel-efficient. It competition it raced efficiently and often kept pace with much more powerful and more expensive competitors.

Class D: Porsche 904 Carrera GTS Coupe Heinkel Flugzeugbau 1964 introduced by Marcus Wolsdorf from Germany

see Car Review Porsche 904

Class D: Porsche 917K 1970 introduced by Christophe Count d'Ansembourg from Belgium

Trofeo il Canto del Motore for the best engine sound by the Jury

see Car Review Porsche 917

Class D: Porsche 934 1976 introduced by Thomas Schlereth from Germany

The Porsche 934 Turbo RSR presented here is one of an initial batch of 30 cars manufactured. The racing car was delivered to Count Girolamo Capra from Vicenza in 1976. Porsche had planned a particularly powerful and lightweight competition car for campaigning in the class of near-series Group 4 racers.

Class D: Porsche 935 1979 introduced by Phillip Sarofim from United States

see Car Review Porsche 935 1976 1984

Class D: Porsche 911 GT1 1998 introduced by Frank Gelf from Germany

One of twenty one road homologated versions of the racing car that eventually finished first and second at 1998 Le Mans 24H. see Car Review Porsche 911 GT1 1996 1998

Class E: Gran Turismo: Experimenting with the post-war European GT

Class Winner: Ferrari 330 GTC Speciale Coupé Pininfarina 1967 introduced by William E. Heinecke from Thailand

Class E: Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Berlinetta Riva "La Serenissima" Berlinetta Carrozzeria Riva 1950 introduced by Stephen Bruno from United States

This one-off automobile was prepared in 1950 with contours penned by Count Giovanni Lurani Cemuschi with space-frame by GILCO and bodywork by Erminio Riva. The berlinetta soon gained laurels at the Concorso d'Eleganza Lido di Veneza in competition with a distinguished line-up of contestants.

Class E: Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupé 1954 introduced by Albert Streminski from Germany

One of eight examples produced. One 1955 Frazer Nash Coupe Le Mans was sold for £337,500 at Bonhams Auction in 2015 in London.

Class E: ATS-2500 GTS Berlinetta Allemano 1963 introduced by Nicholas & Shelley Schorsch from United States

Just twelve examples were comptete after development by Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarini for Couunt Volpi's Automobili Turismo e Sport. One 1963 ATS 2500 GT was sold for £308.000 at RM Auction in London in 2009.

Class E: Lamborghini Miura P400SV Coupé Bertone 1971 introduced by Eizo Tomita from Japan.

see Car Review Lamborghini Miura 1966 1972

Class E: Ferrari 288 GTO Berlinetta Scaglietti 1985 introduced by Horst Koester from Germany

Trofeo BMW Group Ragazzi by young people'sReferendum

272 examples produced. One 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO was sold for Euros 3,464,375 at RM Auction in 2022 in Paris.

Class E: BMW M1 1980 introduced by Neal Heffron from United States

This is 218th of 453 examples annouced between 1978 and 1981. One BMW M1 1980 was sold for Euros 792,500 at RM Munchen in 2022. see Car Review BMW M 1978

Class F: That'made in Italy' Look: Styles which conquered new Worlds

Class Winner: Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta Zagato 1956 introduced by Jonathan and Wendy Segal from United States

see Car Review Maserati A6G 2000 Zagato 1954 1955

One 1956 Maserati A6G 2000 Berlinetta Zagato was sold for £ 700,000 at RM Auction in London in 2010.

Class F-Mention of Honour: Ferrari 212 Export Berlinetta Vignale 1951 introduced by Brian Ross from United States

see Car Review Ferrari 212 Export Coupe Vignale 1951

One 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe Vignale was sold for US$ 1,595,000 at Gooding & Co Pebble Beach Auction in 2017.

Class F: Cadillac Series 62 Sports Sedan Carrozzeria GHIA 1953 introduced by Lee Carr from United States

One of two Cadillac Series 62 GHIA produced. The other example was exhibited at Villa d'Este Concorso Eleganzia in 2018

Class F: Chrysler Coupe GS-1 Special Carrozzeria GHIA 1953 introduced by Francesco Ansaloni from Italy

In the early 1950s, Chrysler boss K.T. Keller came up with a plan which envisaged a great deal of potential for the brand through a modern and elegant design. He then hired automotive designer Virgil Exner, who had created a sensation with his designs at GM and Studebaker. Keller gave Exner a free hand. The latter was quick to take up this opportunity and immediately sketched a number of bold Idea Cars. Carrozzeria Ghia were willing to take these ideas forward and put them into equally inspired practice whereupon the Chrysler managers made contact. They liaised with Luigi Segre and his Chief Designer Mario Boano, who were keen to cooperate. A small series was launched in 1953 and Chrysler delivered the chassis to Italy for the New Yorker model. Ghia produced the bodies by hand on the basis of Virgil Exner's drawings. This example is one of just 18 cars built.

Class F: Maserati 3500 GT Coupé Carrozzeria Touring 1962 introduced by Hidetomo Kimura from Japan

see Car Review Maserati 3500 GT Coupe Touring and Spider Vignale 1958 1964

Class F: Aston Martin DB4 GT Coupé Carrozzeria TOURING Superleggera 1960 introduced by Joerg Wolle from Switzerland

see Car Review Aston Martin DB4 GT 1960

Class G: A Century of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Heroes of the most famous Race in the World

Class Winner: Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta Scaglietti 1962 introduced by David McNeil from United States

see Car Review Ferrari 250 GTO

Class G:Mention of Honour: Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Spider Fantuzzi 1959 introduced by Peter Goodwin from United States

see Car Review Ferrari 250 TR Testa Rossa Scaglietti 1958

Class G: Aston Martin DB2 Coupe Works Race Team 1950 introduced by The Golden Age Collection -Germany

Trofeo ASI for the best preserved post-war car

see Car Review Aston Martin DB2 Coupé 1950

Class G: Peugeot 302 DARL'MAT Sport Pourtout 1937 introduced by Philip White from United States

In 1936, Peugeot Dealer Emile Darl'mat collaborated with Charles Roero de Cortanze , a Peugeot works driver to develop the idea of combining the short chassis of the Peugeot 302 with a wider track and the dependable two litre engine of the Peugeot 402. The idea was apparently inspired by the BMW 328 and could become a dependable racing car.

Peugeot went along with the idea and Emile Darl'mat commissioned the appropriate experts. Georges Paulin penned designs for them, and Marcel Pourtout in Rueil Malmaison near took on the production. As early as 1937, an ambitious team entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans with three Peugeot 302 Darl'mat Sports racers- this example in exhibit is one of the cars raced. It won its class and achieved seventh place overall.

Class G: Ford GT40 Coupé J.W. Automotive 1968 introduced by Bob Walton from United States

Trofeo Auto & Design for the most exciting design by the Jury

Trofeo dei Presidenti by President of Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, Chairman of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and Chairman of Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

see Car Review Ford GT40 1964 1969

Class G: Porsche 936/77 Sports Prototype 1976 introduced by Private Collection from UK

see Car Review Porsche 936 1976 1981

Class G: Ferrari 512 BB LM Berlinetta Bellancauto Pininfarina 1981 introduced Christopher Stahl from Germany

see Car Review Ferrari 512 BB LM 1979

Class H: Here comes the Sun: 'Topless' done differently!

Class Winner: Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California by Pinifarina/Scaglietti 1961 introduced by Keybridge Collection Hong Kong

also Best of Show by Public Referendum

see Car Review Ferrari 250 GT California Spider 1959 hard top

Class H: Isdera Spyder 033-16 Spider 1986 introduced by Harrie van den Hanker from the Netherland (NL)

Isdera is simply an abbreviation of Ingenieurbüro für Styling, Design und Racing (engineering studio for styling, design and racing). There is absolutely no doubt that Isdera remains one of Germany's most dazzling automobile manufacturers. The story starts with Eberhard Schultz who manufactured his first sports car as early as 1968. From 1983, he was working as an ambitious automotive engineer, designer and marketer, and Schultz actually succeeded in building a small sports car seriesz.

His flat, uncompromising Isdera Spyder follows the edgy aesthetic of the 1980 and created a sensation with doors that swung spectacurarly upwards. Schultz originally mounted the car with engines from Volkswagen Golf GTI, but from 19861986 the sports car was powered by powerplants from the Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16. This example is one of just 17 cars built.

Class H: Bentley R-Type Continental Drophead Coupé H.J. Mulliner/Henri Chapron 1954 introduced by Stephen Brauer from United States and

BMW 507 Touring Sport Roadster 1959 introduced by Karl Gerhold from Germany

see Car Review BMW 507 Roadster 1956 1959

Concept Cars & Prototypes: Silk EV- FAW Hongqi S9 Prototype

Silk EV from Italy and FAW from China joined force to create Silk Sports Car Company established in Emilia Italy to create and produce in Italy and China Hongqi S Series automobiles at the intersection of ultra luxury high performances and new energy vehicles. Partnership with Walter De Silva Design for de styling studies. Prototype S9 is in final styling development stage.

Concept Cars & Prototype: Bugatti W16 Roadster MISTRAL 2022

Only 99 examples will be built, priced at 5 million Euros net, with deliveries due to begin in 2024. The entire production run is already sold out.