Munich/Cernobbio, April 23, 2007 – The shore of lake Como was once again the setting for two sparkling days of extraordinary automotive design. At the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este held April 20th to the 22nd, 53 classic cars spanning the period from 1919 to 1971 lined up in eight competition classes before the informed gaze of an expert jury and the public. This unique gathering of automotive works of art is set against an equally elegant backdrop -- the world-famous Grand Hotel Villa d'Este. It was the ninth staging of the Concorso with the sponsorship of the BMW Group.
It wasn’t just about history. The future of automotive design was glimpsed in a competition for contemporary concept cars, with a line-up of 13 designs that gave the attendees a taste of tomorrow's cars. They were treated to a world premiere when Carrozzeria Zagato took the wraps off the Maserati GS Zagato for the first time. The BMW Group presented the public debut of the Concept Coupé Mille Miglia 2006. Following its appearance at Lake Como, this homage to the car that won the race in 1940 - the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupé - will not be seen again until it goes on display in the BMW Museum next year.
The event drew a crowd that thronged the grounds of Villa Erba on Sunday. On this lovely site next to Lake Como, auto enthusiasts enjoyed a line-up of classic four-wheelers and concept cars as well as the special exhibitions "90 Years of the BMW Brand" and "Automobile design by Giovanni Michelotti".
The Trofeo BMW Group went to the Mercedes-Benz SSK from the year 1930. This SSK was produced in England by coachbuilder Willi White based on designs by Count Felice Trossi. It is one of very few Mercedes-Benz SSK models to feature special bodywork. The man who commissioned the design and the color of the car earned it the nickname of "Black Prince". This car is part of the Ralph Lauren Collection.
The Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este public award, the main prize decided by visitors, went to the Bugatti 57C Cabriolet Voll & Ruhrbeck of 1939. The car's chassis was one of the last to be delivered to German Bugatti importer Noll of Düsseldorf before the outbreak of the Second World War. Voll & Ruhrbeck were commissioned with constructing a special body for the chassis. The Bugatti was subsequently owned by Norwegian Olympic ice-skating champion Sonja Heine. Following a complete restoration, the Bugatti made its first European appearance in its original version. James A. Patterson is the current owner.
The Trofeo BMW Italia (Public Referendum at Villa Erba) was awarded to the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Flying Star from the year 1931. Carrozzeria Touring of Milan built a special body for the Alfa Romeo which has gone down in motoring history as the "Flying Star". It was with this model that Mrs Josette Pozzo won the Coppa d'Oro di Villa d'Este in the 1931 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. 76 years later, the Alfa Romeo Flying Star returned to the historic site of its major triumph and claimed another prize as the winner of the Trofeo BMW Italia. The car hails from the collection of Arturo Keller.
The Trofeo FIVA for the best-kept car went to the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS Spider Zagato of 1929 owned by Henri Chambon. With its lightweight body, this model seemed tailor-made for racing and went on to win the 1929 Mille Miglia.
The prize for the furthest journey, presented by the Automobile Club Como, went to the BMW 335 Cabriolet Autenrieth. Per Viberg set out in his four-door cabriolet from the north of Norway in a blizzard and drove it all the way down to sunny Como.
The Trofeo Rolls-Royce for the most elegant coachwork on a Rolls-Royce was awarded to the Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental 2 door Hooper of Stefan Schörghuber dating back to 1932. Just three examples of this two-seater were built on the chassis of the Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental.
Very much in keeping with the tradition of the competition, the last six years have featured a design prize for the best contemporary concept cars. The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Design Award went to the Ferrari P4/5 Pininfarina. Precisely 400 units of the sensational Ferrari Enzo supercar were built in Maranello. But for US film producer and stockmarket guru James M. Glickenhaus, this was not exclusive enough. The Ferrari collector commissioned Carrozzeria Pininfarina of Turin with the construction of a special body based on a standard Enzo. The shape of the P4/5 body recalls the legendary Daytona-winning Ferrari 330 P4 of 1967.
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