· Best of car design past and future

· Como hosts a stunning show of the most beautiful cars

Great classic cars of the past and interesting concept cars of today met at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. This most traditional of design contests was held in Cernobbio on Lake Como from April 23rd to 24th. A special exhibition celebrated the 75th jubilee of famous Italian designer Pininfarina. The BMW Group, a partner in the organization of the Villa d’Este event, also had reason to celebrate: their classic 503 and 507 sports cars mark their 50th birthday this year. In particular the BMW 507, designed in 1955 by the legendary Albrecht Graf Goertz, was the focus of attention.

54 historic cars and eight modern design studies made the contest into a great success once again. The organizing team had a range of even more stunning cars from which to choose the best models at this year’s event. The contest for modern concept cars is gaining in importance each year. As Holger Lapp, head of BMW’s Mobile Tradition division, said: “It underlines the connection between classic and modern design we find here at Villa d’Este.” Dr. Jean-Marc Droulers, President of Villa d’Este S.p.A. and host of the event, added: “It is great to have an event of such tremendous appeal held here at Villa d’Este. Guests and participants from all over Europe and the United States prove that the Concorso has become an internationally important event not only for the classic car scene.”

Italian designer Pininfarina took the opportunity of the Concorso showcase to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the company with a remarkable presentation of Pininfarina gems. Classics like the Cisitalia 202 from 1947 or the Lancia Aurelia B24 S of 1954 rubbed shoulders with the current concept car named “Birdcage”, with technology based on a Maserati. The company was founded in 1930 under the name of “S.A. Carrozzeria Pinin Farina”. Since then, Pininfarina has written motoring history. In recent decades, Pininfarina has succeeded in winning several important prizes for its innovative design, such as the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Design Award 2003 for the Pininfarina Rossa.

The grounds of Villa d’Este have traditionally served as a catwalk for four-wheeled gems. Guests, drivers, journalists and the jury take time to examine the cars and rate them. Finally, the classic cars and the modern show cars have to drive in front of the jury. Many of them have travelled to Lake Como under their own steam. In this show the cars are allowed to have a little patina, explained Holger Lapp. “We want authentic cars rather than perfect show conditions as at other famous shows in the world.”

On Sunday the cars were parked in the gardens of Villa Erba, where the public was also granted a closer look. Afterwards the public prize was awarded at Villa Erba. Since the revival of the Concorso tradition, more and more fans, and even more media representatives, flock to the event each year.

The winner of the Tropheo BMW Group, the award for “Best of Show by the Jury”, was the Alfa Romeo Canguro Coupé Bertone, built in 1964 and brought to Cernobbio by Shiro Kosaka. It was originally built as a concept car for the Paris Motor Show in 1964 by Italian designer Bertone. Now the car celebrates a successful comeback after more than 30 years, not only being voted “Best of Show by the Jury” but also winning the Trofeo Corrado Millanta press award.

The Coppa d’Oro di Villa d’Este award – “Best of Show by Public Referendum” – went to the Ferrari 212 Export Spider Vignale, built in 1951.

The Trofea Rolls-Royce for the most elegant coachwork on a Rolls-Royce was won by a Rolls-Royce Phantom I Piccadilly Roadster of 1927.

The Trofeo del Presidente della FIVA for the best-preserved car was given to a BMW 507 Roadster from 1957. Even at the age of 50, this car is still a prize-winner.

The award for the most sensitive restoration, the Tropheo Ruoteclassiche, went to a tiny Austin Swallow Sports Saloon MkII Coupé from 1931.

In honour of Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni, the late Chairman of the Jury of the Concorso, a special award for the most elegant car with a touring body was introduced last year. This year the prize went to a Pegaso Z 102 BT Coupé Touring of 1955.

In keeping with the tradition of the Concorso d’Eleganza, the last four years have incorporated a competition for concept cars dating from the last two years. This time, eight cars were featured. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Design Award by public referendum went to the Peugeot 907 Coupé built in 2004 and displayed by Robert Peugeot.

Jury Final Statement

After the exhibitions and the parades in Villa d’Este and Villa Erba gardens, on a beautiful weekend on Como lake and after Public and Jury voting, the following are the official results of the first and second day of the “Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este”.

Trofeo BMW Group

Best in Show by the Jury

Alfa Romeo Canguro Coupé Bertone, 1964; entrant Shiro Kosaka

Public Referendum Awards

Coppa d’Oro di Villa d’Este

Best of Show by Public Referendum at Villa d’Este

Ferrari 212 Export Spider Vignale, 1951; entrant Jeff Fisher.

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Design Award

By Public Referendum at Villa d’Este

Peugeot 907 Coupé, 2004; entrant Robert Peugeot.

Trofeo BMW Italia

By Public Referendum at Villa Erba

Aston Martin DB4 GT Coupé Zagato, 1961; entrant David Sydorick..

Trofeo BMW Group Design Award

By Public Referendum at Villa Erba

Peugeot 907 Coupé, 2004; entrant Robert Peugeot.

Trofeo Corrado Millanta

The Press Award (by press voting)

Alfa Romeo Canguro Coupé Bertone, 1964; entrant Shiro Kosaka.

Special Awards by the Jury

Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni Memorial Trophy

To the most elegant car with Touring body by the Jury

Pegaso Z 102 BT Coupé Touring, 1955; entrant Heiko Seekamp.

Trofeo Pininfarina

To the most elegant car with Pininfarina body by the Jury

Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupé Pinin Farina, 1956; entrant Jack E. Thomas.

Trofeo Rolls-Royce

To the most elegant coachwork on a Rolls-Royce by the Jury

Rolls Royce Phantom I Piccadilly Roadster, 1927; entrant Robert Braunschweig.

Trofeo del Presidente della “FIVA”

To the best preserved car by the Jury

BMW 507 Roadster, 1957; entrant Francesco Gandolfi.

Trofeo Ruoteclassiche

To the most sensitive restoration by the Jury

Austin Swallow Sports Saloon Mk II Coupé, 1931; entrant Viktor Wagner.

Trofeo Automobile Club di Como

To the car coming driven from the farthest away by the Jury

Bentley R Type Continental Drop Head Coupé Park Ward, 1955; entrant Fred Kriz.

Class Winners by the Jury

1920-1929: open & closed cars "Les années folles"

1^st Diploma and Silver Plaque: Ballot Torpedo Sport Lagache-Glaszmann, 1924; entrant Andre Plasch.

2^nd Diploma: Bugatti 35A Grand Sport, 1926; entrant Roland Jordi.

3^rd Diploma: Isotta Fraschini 8A Coupé de Ville Cesare Sala, 1926; entrant Renato Genovese.

1930-1939: open cars "Flamboyances et extravagances"

1^st Diploma and Silver Plaque: Bugatti Type 57 C Cabriolet Gangloff, 1939; entrant Frans Van Haren.

2^nd Diploma: Duesenberg J Convertible Sedan Franay, 1931; entrant James M. Glickenhaus.

3^rd Diploma: Cord 812 Sportsman Supercharged, 1937; entrant Giulio Caimi.

1930-1939: closed cars "Flamboyances et extravagances"

1^st Diploma and Silver Plaque: Bentley Speed Six Coupé Gurney-Nutting, 1931; entrant Peter Hageman.

2^nd Diploma: Bugatti 57 Atalante Coupé, 1936; entrant Franz-Josef Kleine.

3^rd Diploma: Austin Swallow Sports Saloon Mk II Coupé, 1931; entrant Viktor Wagner.

1940-1959: open cars "Le temps du changement"

1^st Diploma and Silver Plaque: Ferrari 212Export Spider Vignale, 1951; entrant Jeff Fischer.

2^nd Diploma: Ferrari 250 GT California Spider Scaglietti, 1959, entrant Peter S. Kalikow.

3^rd Diploma: Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America Pinin Farina, 1955; entrant Almar Gouweloos.

1940-1959: closed cars "Le temps du changement"

1^st Diploma and Silver Plaque: Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Speciale Pinin Farina, 1955; entrant Cornelius Tamboer.

2^nd Diploma: Ferrari 375 MM Sport Berlinetta Pinin Farina, 1955; entrant Manuel Del Arroz.

3^rd Diploma: Fiat 8V Coupé Zagato, 1954; entrant Aldo Di Bello.

1960-1970: open & closed cars "Le Style en liberté"

1^st Diploma and Silver Plaque: Alfa Romeo Canguro Coupé Bertone, 1964; entrant Shiro Kosaka.

2^nd Diploma: Aston Martin DB4 GT Coupé Zagato, 1961; entrant David Sydorick.

3^rd Diploma: Lancia Flaminia 2500 Sport 3C Coupé Zagato, 1963; entrant Beat Walti.