Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este - Cernobbio 2008

Already since 1929 the Concorso d'Eleganza is hosted at the area of the grand hotel Villa d'Este in Cernobbio, Italy and it is considered as one of the most outstanding events of this kind. For more than 9 years the BMW group organises this traditional beauty competition. Selecting Advisor Urs Paul Ramseier for sure has one of the most difficult tasks to handle. He has to select around 50 cars out of many more top-class aspirants. The owners of the selected cars have the privilege to compete against each other for the coveted trophy "best of show". Amongst this years participants were 7 Ferrari's, all outstanding cars, everyone of its own kind very special.

In class E "speed and style - sports cars in Italian suits" competed the two coloured 1949 Ferrari 166 Inter Farina coupe with serial number 037S of Dutch collector Edgar Schermerhorn. The body design by Stabilimenti Farina with the characteristic "fast back" appears more sporty and light in comparison to the 166 coupe body by Touring, the blue-silver paint points it out even more.

Ferrari 166 Inter Farina
Aufgenommen am 26. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

Ferrari 166 Inter Farina
Aufgenommen am 27. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

In the same class competed the Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet series 1 - an especially dignified participant of the category "speed and style". Ferrari connaisseur Peter S. Kalikow brought the elegant cabriolet from the USA to the Italian springtime. As one of only 40 built cabriolets of this series, this 1958 built exemplar with serial number 0813GT joins a small production, were nearly every car has been realised with individual ideas and wishes of the first owners.

Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet Serie 1
Aufgenommen am 26. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

With his elegant silver coloured 1954 Ferrari 250 Europa (serial number 0349EU) competed John Van Puyfelde in Class F "thoroughbreds - the golden age of the granturismo". In comparison to the successor Ferrari 250 GT Europa the 250 Europa has a considerable longer wheel base and is identical in construction to the Ferrari 375 America, except for the engine. Pininfarine made 16 car bodies for the 250 Europa.

Ferrari 250 Europa
Aufgenommen am 26. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

Ferrari 250 Europa
Aufgenommen am 27. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

The class G "Italian dreams - showcars by Italian designers" promised a special goody. The 1967 at the Frankfurt Motorshow in Germany launched Dino Competizione Pininfarina concept car based on the Dino 206 S chassis still turned out to be an idol of the public - after 40 years! The car has been part of the Pininfarina collection until 2007, when Ferrari enthusiast James Glickenhaus was able to by the yellow Dino. Last year the director Glickenhaus presented his outstanding Ferrari P 4/5 and at this years Concorso he surpassed himself with another very special car. And he is the first owner!

Ferrari Dino 206 S Competizione
Aufgenommen am 26. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

Even 3 thoroughbred Ferrari race cars competed in class H "endurance legends - racing greats of the 1950's". The blue Ferrari 166 MM / 195 S Touring Berlinetta Le Mans (serial number 026M) of John Croul from the USA was ordered in 1949 by the earl Giannino Marzotto. Touring designed a sporty body in Superleggera construction method for the as 166 MM Berlinetta ordered Ferrari. With the big aim before his face to win the 1950 Mille Miglia, Marzotto went to Enzo Ferrari very short after purchasing the 166 with the demand for a bigger engine. The new fitted engine didn't miss the mark. Giannino Marzotto won the Mille Miglia together with copilot Marco Corsaro. In the very same year the ambitious earl even won the 3 hours of Rome. Later the car started in several races around the USA and was sold in 1965 to an American collector including the original engine.

Ferrari 195 Sport Touring Berlinetta
Aufgenommen am 26. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

Ferrari 195 Sport Touring Berlinetta
Aufgenommen am 27. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

As well the 1955 Ferrari 410 S (serial number 0596M) with a Scaglietti Spider body belonged to the "racing greats of the 1950's" listed in class H. Brian Ross brought the yellow Ferrari from the USA to the lake Como. The most remarkable about this Ferrari is the fact that the 410S has its roots in the luxery Ferrari 410 Superamerica. Usually the process works the other way round. The engine of the road cruiser has been advanced for racing and should have raced with its 380hp in the Carrera Panamericana. But the race was cancelled due to the disaster of Le Mans, worldwide everyone was enraged about the bad safety precaution in car races.

Ferrari 410 S Scaglietti Spyder
Aufgenommen am 26. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

Gabriele Artom presented his 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC with the racy Spider body of Scaglietti. Although the 500 TRC was not made for the official Ferrari racing, but exclusive for the private drivers, the car with the serial number 0969MDTR with Fernand Tavono driving was a winner. Between 1957 and 1959 Tavono got hold of 9 over all titles, like Deputy French Sports Vehicle Champion and French Mountain Race Champion. The two-colored paint by the way was part of the original concept of Scaglietti, most of the 500 TRC cars were delivered to the customers including the race stripes.

Ferrari 500 TRC
Aufgenommen am 26. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

Ferrari 500 TRC
Aufgenommen am 27. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

Afer the top-class jury had checked the cars for authenticity, the participants presented their beautiful to the audience with the terrific scenery of Lake Come in the background. The invited guests had the chance to designate the winner "best of show" in a public vote. The winner of the Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este was Arturo Keller from Mexico with his Mercedes 540 K Autobahnkurier from 1938.

After the Saturday was exclusive reserved for invited guest, on Sunday everyone had the possibility to see the fantastic range of cars at the area of Villa Erba in Cernobbio. There, all the cars that already have been displayed the day before stood along together with several other automobile treasuries. In a special show to the tasteful automotive craftsmanship of Touring several in Superleggera construction method built cars were on display. Thereunder for sure the Ferraris didn't miss. There was the green Ferrari 212 Export Touring Berlinetta (serial number 0112E), a Ferrari 212 Barchetta (serial number 0183EL) and a red Ferrari 340 America (Seriennummer 0116A).

Ferrari 212 Export Touring Berlinetta
Aufgenommen am 27. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

Ferrari 212 Inter Touring Barchetta
Aufgenommen am 27. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

Ferrari 340 America Touring Barchetta
Aufgenommen am 27. April 2008
Veranstaltung: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

In the afternoon again all the participants of the Concorso d'Eleganza presented their cars to the public, also the vote of the jury was announced. The Trofeo BMW Group "best of show" of the jury went to the Ferrari 166 MM / 195 S Touring Berlinetta Le Mans of John Croul, USA. The Trofeo BMW Group Italia "best of show" by public vote went to the Delahaye 135 M Roadster of Peter Mullin, USA. The Concorso d'Eleganza Design Award by public vote went to the Concept Car Bugatti Veyron Fbg Hermès Bugatti from 2008.