Villa d’Este, the european capital of classic cars.
Every year, the shores of Lake Como host the highlight of the european classic car calendar.
For this 2017 edition, the competitors were grouped in eight themed classes, covering eight decades of automotive history:
Class A – Speed Demons: Endurance Pioneers of the Golden Age.
Class B – Travelling in Style: Around the World in 40 Years.
Class C – Goodbye Jazz, Hello Radio: Full Speed into the 1930s.
Class D – Faster, Quieter, Smoother: Heroes of the Jet Age.
Class E – The Grand Tour Continues: The Next 40 Years.
Class F – Fast and Flamboyant: Playboys’ Toys.
Class G – Supergioiello: Little Toys for Big Boys.
Class H – Shaped by Speed: Racing through the Decades.
Under the patronage of the BMW Group, Villa d’Este 2017 was also the venue for the world premiere of the BMW 8 Series Concept and Rolls-Royce Sweptail.
Class H – Shaped by Speed
These competition cars convey the multifaceted ways in which shape could contribute to aerodynamic effect. The styling of the coachwork was incomparably aesthetic in the years from the 1950s to the 1970s, when the sole purpose was to win races.
| 94 | Maserati 300S | 1958 | 6 cyl. 2991 cm3 | Fantuzzi | A. Mohringer (A) |
| 96 | Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta SWB Competizione | 1960 | V12 2953 cm3 | Pinin Farina | Coll. Destriero |
| 98 | Abarth 1000 Bialbero Record | 1960 | 4 cyl. 982 cm3 | Pinin Farina | L. Bertolero (I) |
| 100 | Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Competizione | 1970 | V12 4390 cm3 | Pininfarina | M. Lustenberger (CH) |
| 102 | Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Spyder N.A.R.T. | 1972 | V12 4390 cm3 | Michelotti | M. Abellan (CH) |
| 104 | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 1973 | B6 2808 cm3 | Porsche | S. Ventura (I) |
Picture Gallery – Villa d’Este 2017 Class H
Afficher la galerie de photosClass G – Supergioiello: Little Toys for Big Boys.
The competitors in this class bear witness to the fact that the exclusivity of a sports car was not entirely restricted to statistics for the number of cylinders, displacement and power. Even an air-cooled two-cylinder automobile can create an impressive sight. The most frequently produced sports car in this class still only achieved a total number of 21. Four of these sports cars remained absolutely unique.
| 80 | Fiat 1100 | 1946 | 4 cyl. 1089 cm3 | Frua | D. Word (USA) |
| 82 | Osca MT4 | 1952 | 4 cyl. 1342 cm3 | Vignale | B. White (USA) |
| 84 | Astra Coupé | 1952 | 8 cyl. 4977 cm3 | Jay Everett | F. Millneritsch (A) |
| 86 | Fiat 8V | 1955 | 8 cyl. 1996 cm3 | Vignale | J. de Reu (B) |
| 88 | Alfa Romeo Giulietta SS Prototipo | 1957 | 4 cyl. 1290 cm3 | Bertone | G. Scaglione (I) |
| 90 | Intermeccanica IMP 700 GT | 1961 | 2 cyl. 493 cm3 | Fratelli Corna | S. Stockmar (D) |
| 92 | Cisitalia Abarth Coupé Scorpione | 1961 | 4 cyl. 847 cm3 | Allemano | S. Lugo (AR) |
Picture Gallery – Villa d’Este 2017 Class G
Afficher la galerie de photosClass F – Fast and Flamboyant: Playboys’ Toys.
This is where the fast cars of high society line up – not particularly practical but absolutely wonderful. Racing cars licensed for road use or a Le Mans racer were once used by smart young epicureans to drive from one night club to the next.
| 66 | Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California Prototipo | 1957 | V12 2953 cm3 | Pinin Farina | R. Bishop (USA) |
| 68 | Ghia L 6.4 | 1962 | 8 cyl. 6277 cm3 | Ghia | J. Braam-Ruben (NL) |
| 70 | Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato | 1962 | 6 cyl. 3670 cm3 | Zagato | P. Goodwin (USA) |
| 72 | Shelby Cobra 427 | 1966 | V8 6997 cm3 | AC | B. Finn (USA) |
| 74 | Ferrari 365 California | 1967 | V12 4390 cm3 | Pininfarina | W. Heinecke (TH) |
| 76 | Lamborghini Miura P400 | 1968 | V12 3929 cm3 | Bertone | J-P Slavic (CH) |
| 78 | Ferrari 365 GT/4 BB | 1976 | V12 4390 cm3 | Pininfarina | G. Purkert (D) |
Picture Gallery – Villa d’Este 2017 Class F
Afficher la galerie de photosClass E – The Grand Tour Continues: The Next 40 Years.
After 1945, large luxury saloons quickly returned to our roads. Numerous specials and unique coachbuilt bodies were also created for the luxury class.
| 52 | Siata 208S | 1954 | 8 cyl. 1996 cm3 | Motto | M. Behaegel (B) |
| 54 | Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider | 1955 | 6 cyl. 2451 cm3 | Pinin Farina | P. Bianchi (I) |
| 56 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL | 1955 | 6 cyl. 1955 cm3 | Mercedes-Benz | A. Meuzelaar (B) |
| 58 | Ferrari 250 Europa GT Speciale | 1955 | V12 2953 cm3 | Pinin Farina | A. & M. Gruss (USA) |
| 60 | Maserati A6G/2000 Gran Sport | 1956 | 6 cyl. 1986 cm3 | Frua | W. & J. Segal (USA) |
| 62 | Lancia Flaminia Sport | 1959 | 6 cyl. 2458 cm3 | Zagato | L. Schigiel (USA) |
| 64 | Lamborghini 350 GT | 1965 | V12 3929 cm3 | Touring | B. & V. Laureys (B) |
Picture Gallery – Villa d’Este Classe E
Afficher la galerie de photosClass D – Faster, Quieter, Smoother: Heroes of the Jet Age.
Sporting beauties came on the scene in the years after 1945 and this class brings them together. The sports cars propelled by powerful engines and a bespoke individual body were definitely way out in front when it came to exclusivity.
| 38 | Bentley mk VI | 1947 | 6 cyl. 4257 cm3 | H. J. Mulliner | N. Seeger (LT) |
| 40 | Bentley mk VI Cresta | 1948 | 6 cyl. 4257 cm3 | Pinin Farina | F. Kriz (MC) |
| 42 | Salmson G-72 Coupé | 1951 | 4 cyl. 2218 cm3 | Saoutchik | D. Marachin (F) |
| 44 | Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport | 1951 | 6 cyl. 2443 cm3 | Pinin Farina | R. & H. Wysard (USA) |
| 46 | Fiat 8V Supersonic | 1953 | 8 cyl. 1996 cm3 | Ghia | L. Schouwenburg (NL) |
| 48 | Lagonda Rapide | 1962 | 6 cyl. 3995 cm3 | Touring | E. Mignon (CH) |
| 50 | Maserati 5000 GT | 1962 | 8 cyl. 4941 cm3 | Allemano | R. D’leteren (B) |
Picture Gallery – Villa d’Este 2017 Class D
Afficher la galerie de photosClass C – Goodbye Jazz, Hello Radio: Full Speed into the 1930s.
In 1932, the car radio was launched on its successful trajectory. Rhythmic harmony encouraged drivers to adopt a more rapid driving style. This class shows how different manufacturers responded to this challenge. The full range of responses is presented here encompassing overdrive gearboxes, streamlined coachwork and supercharged engines.
| 26 | Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Turismo | 1932 | 6 cyl 1752 cm3 | Castagna | A. Lecocq (ES) |
| 30 | Tatra 77 | 1934 | 8 cyl 2969 cm3 | Tatra | T. Hoferek (CZ) |
| 32 | Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A | 1938 | 8 cyl 5401 cm3 | Sindelfingen | P. Hertel (D) |
| 34 | Horch 853A Sportcabriolet | 1939 | 8 cyl 4944 cm3 | Horch | S. Karosas (LT) |
| 36 | Mercedes-Benz 770 Cabriolet D | 1939 | 8 cyl 7655 cm3 | Sindelfingen | B. Werndl (D) |
Picture Gallery – Villa d’Este 2017 Classe C
Afficher la galerie de photosClass B – Travelling in Style: Around the World in 40 Years.
Luxurious and extravagant automobiles from the pre-war era compete for the favour of the jurors. These candidates were forged in the style of their times and they are not just permitted to exude an aura of decadence – they must epitomise it.
| 12 | Lancia 12 HP Tipo 51 Alfa | 1908 | 4 cyl 2543 cm3 | Miller Bros | C. Lopresto (I) |
| 14 | Rolls-Royce Phantom I | 1926 | 6 cyl 7668 cm3 | Charles Clark | C. Meany (AUS) |
| 16 | Hispano-Suiza T49 | 1927 | 6 cyl 3746 cm3 | H.J. Mulliner | M. Gastaldi (MC) |
| 18 | Itala Tipo 61 | 1928 | 6 cyl 1991 cm3 | Farina | L. Bustelo (AR) |
| 20 | Duesenberg J Convertible Berline | 1930 | 8 cyl 6882 cm3 | Murphy | I. Tiriac (RO) |
| 22 | Lancia Dilambda | 1932 | 8 cyl 3960 cm3 | Viotti | A. Kalimian (USA) |
| 24 | Voisin C23 Charente | 1932 | 6 cyl 2994 cm3 | Avions Voisin | R. Rey (CH) |
Picture Gallery – Villa d’Este 2017 Class B
Afficher la galerie de photosClass A – Speed Demons: Endurance Pioneers of the Golden Age.
This class recalls endurance contests for the Gordon Bennett Cup, the classic Paris – Rouen Race or the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Two racing cars meet here again which competed against each other on the Brooklands race track at Weybridge/Surrey in the UK, already a legend in the 1930s: the French Ballot 3/8 LC from 1920 and the Bentley 4 ½ Litre from 1929.
| 02 | Ballot 3/8 LC | 1920 | L8 2973 cm3 | Ballot | A. Schaufler (A) |
| 04 | Bentley 4 ½ Litre | 1929 | L4 4442 cm3 | Birkin & Couper | J. Ernst (D) |
| 06 | Bentley 3 Litre | 1922 | L4 2996 cm3 | Park Ward | P. Briggs (AUS) |
| 08 | Bugatti 51 | 1931 | L8 2262 cm3 | Bugatti | R. Collier (USA) |
| 10 | Lurani Nibbio | 1935 | 1 cyl 250 cm3 | Riva | F. Götsche Bebert (I) |
Picture Gallery – Villa d’Este 2017 Class A
Afficher la galerie de photosLinks
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