The ‘Best in Show’ winner at this year’s Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza will join a roll-call of some of the finest automobiles ever produced. Here are some of the more recent winners…
The Concorso’s official ‘Best in Show’, in recent years sponsored by the BMW Group, is decided by a jury panel of automotive experts led by president Lorenzo Ramaciotti. However, of equal significance is the more traditional Coppa d’Oro, decided by public referendum. As such, we’ve included the winners of each title in our round-up – provided a single car hasn’t won both, that is…
2015 – Anglo-American battle on the shores of Lake Como
Last year, the Zagato-bodied 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 owned by American David Sydorick won the jury over, while Englishman Clive Beecham’s two-tone Ferrari 166 MM captured the imagination of the public – possibly due to the fact it was previously owned by none other than Fiat patriarch Gianni Agnelli.
2014 – Home victory for Alfa and Maserati
In 2014, repeat Villa d’Este Concorso entrant Albert Spiess wowed the jury with his 1956 Maserati 450 S, while the audience-voted prize was won by the striking 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS of esteemed Italian collector Corrado Lopresto. The Alfa originally wore a Zagato body until it was crashed and subsequently purchased in 1938 by Giuseppe Aprile, who instructed his own craftsmen to create a unique, futuristic body.
2013 – Ralph's clean sweep
Old Ralph carried his usual confidence over to the autotmotive catwalk in 2013, and with good reason: he’d brought along his Bugatti Atlantic 57 SC. One of only two remaining examples of the four intially produced – making it one of the most valuable cars in the world – the eight-cylinder Bugatti took not only the jury and public-vote awards, but also the Trofeo BMW Group Italia andthe Ragazzi trophy, the latter decided by the under-16s in attendance.
2012 – Cohen's whitewash
The 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS coupé owned by Canadian David Cohen took both the jury and public referendum honours in 2012 – but that failed to quash his enthusiasm. Cohen also entered the Alfa into the Pebble Beach Concours a few months later, where it narrowly missed out on the ‘Best in Show’ award there, too.
2011 – Alfas party in the rain
At the 2011 Concorso, the heavy showers threatened to wash away the carefully prepared glitz and glamour of the proceedings. However, enough sunshine prevailed to allow the jury to cast a vote, which eventually went in favour of Englishman Clive Joy’s Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale – which we caught being admired by another voluptuous scarlet beauty in the form of Christina Hendricks. The wider public, however, chose Corrado Lopresto’s Bertone-bodied Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS as their leading lady.
Photos: Rémi Dargegen, Jan Baedeker, Nanette Schärf and Gudrun Muschalla for Classic Driver © 2016
On 21 and 22 May 2016, the glitterati of the international classic car scene convenes on the shores of Lake Como once again for the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza. Classic Driver will bereporting live from the event in partnership with A. Lange & Söhne, the official watch partner of the world-class automotive beauty pageant.
