25 favourite classic cars at Villa d’Este last weekend

Lakeside lovelies

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is one of the most prestigious classic car concours events anywhere in the world.

Held on the shores of Lake Como in Italy, a stone’s throw from both the Swiss border and Milan, it attracts a worldwide audience of participants and visitors.

It also brings several side events, with a public day on Sunday 26 May at nearby Villa Erba, hosted by BMW – the marque also sponsors the main Villa d’Este concours.

For 2024, the big event was held on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 May, and it started with rain but the sun soon came out. Here are our favourites, in no particular order.

1. 1956 Maserati A6G/54 by Zagato

In 2024 it is Maserati’s 110th birthday, and the organisers attracted a diverse array of exciting, scintillatingly rare gems from the Modenese marque.

This particular example is one of 60 overall chassis built and one of 20 bodied by Milanese carrozzeria Zagato.

The 17th built, this car was originally intended to compete at the 1956 Mille Miglia, but was only finished two days before the race and competed in bare aluminium.

Sadly, its first owner crashed the car, whereupon it was returned to Zagato for repairs and painted silver.

It features a smaller radiator opening and smaller headlights compared to its other Zagato-bodied brethren, making this car unique. It was restored to its original condition in 2000.

2. 1967 Serenissima Agena

Automobili Serenissima was the brainchild of Venetian nobleman Conte Giovanni Volpi di Misurata.

He ran a private racing team from the late 1950s onwards, competing with Ferraris, Maseratis, Abarths and Porsches.

He even helped fund development of the Maserati Birdcage and Ferrari 250GTO, but the relationship with Maranello faltered when Volpi got involved with the ATS programme (made up of ex-Ferrari engineers).

He later established Serenissima as a manufacturer in 1963, and went on to build four models over the next seven years.

This, the Agena, was built in 1967 and remains the sole prototype. It was owned by Count Volpi until 2020, and other than a technical overhaul, remains in unrestored condition.

3. 1963 Abarth Simca 1300 GT

Abarth may be better known for its involvement with Fiats and Porsches, but in the early 1960s French firm Simca fancied a taste of motorsport.

Simca and Abarth collaborated to produce a challenger for small-capacity-class GT racing, and were briefly successful before Simca’s takeover by Chrysler in 1964.

This 1300 GT began life with a standard nose and round tail section, but its architect first owner sent it back to Abarth’s works racing team, who updated it to the latest competition specification.

Part of this was an upgrade to the aerodynamics and a Kamm tail from Sibona-Basono. Like the Serenissima, it has never been restored.

4. 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300

We’ve all heard about long-time classic car owners – but how does 77 years sound?

This 8C is one of only 10 road cars bodied by Figoni, and believed to have been sold to a Mr Weinberg to compete on the Paris-Nice Rally in 1933 and 1934.

It was also campaigned by Count Francois de Bremont with great success on the Grossglockner hillclimb.

It was later sold to the father of Henri d’Autichamp. He then gifted the Alfa to his son, a Naval graduate, who kept the car hidden away in a barn while he served in Asia during the Second World War.

It was used regularly after the war until 1977, and when Henri d’Autichamp was 98 in 2014, the car was returned to public view. This year, it won Best of Show at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

5. 1957 Ferrari 250GT Boano

One of the first Ferraris to garner production numbers measured in three digits, the 250GT Boano models were the first proper ‘production’ Ferraris.

This particular car was originally painted Marrone 1115 (dark brown), but when it was very new it was repainted Verde Riviera, its current shade.

It has not been repainted since, despite taking part in the Rallye Monte-Carlo, the Coupes des Alpes and Tour de France in 1958. It also won the Rallye Marseille-Provence that year.

Unrestored since new, it’s had just two owners.

6. 1960 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato

With Ferrari upping its game in endurance racing with the 250GT series, Aston Martin turned to Zagato to provide a streamlined, lighter, aluminium body.

Armed with an uprated engine that provided around 280bhp, just 19 original cars were built.

This particular car is one of only six left-hand-drive examples built.

7. 1962 Ferrari 250GT Speciale Aerodinamico SWB

This car is one of four special, handbuilt bodies made at Pininfarina that clothed 250GT SWB Competizione underpinnings.

It combines elements of the 250GT coupé with the front profile of the 400 Superamerica Aerodinamica, as styled by Sergio Pininfarina himself. Apparently Enzo Ferrari was a big fan.

Its Noccciola (hazelnut) paintwork is matched by its Connolly trim, as specified by Ferdinando Gatta, the son-in-law of Adele Lancia.

8. 1957 Ferrari 335 S

This 335 S has lived a storied life on track and on screen, wearing several chassis numbers and bearing different engines.

It has been campaigned on the Mille Miglia, 12 Hours of Sebring and at Le Mans, with the likes of Mike Hawthorn, Maurice Trintignant, Peter Collins, Juan Manuel Fangio and more.

It also won the Cuba Grand Prix in 1958, with Stirling Moss behind the wheel.

More recently, it was analysed to build replicas for Michael Mann’s Ferrari film, released in 2023.

9. 1987 Ruf CTR Yellowbird

Based on the Porsche Carrera 3.2, Ruf catapulted itself to worldwide fame with this very car.

Its 3.3-litre turbocharged engine delivers 463bhp in a 1150kg (2535lb) package to take this car to a top speed faster than both the Porsche 959 and Ferrari F40.

This particular car is the prototype that set all the famous speed records in the mid-to-late 1980s, and has remained in the Ruf family ever since.

10. 1976 Lamborghini Countach LP400

This car was originally a birthday present for Princess Dalal bint Al Saud, ordered in her favourite colour, purple (Viola Salchi), with a white leather interior.

One of just two LP400s originally painted purple, prior to its delivery to California, Prince Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud had the car customised with white accents.

It followed the couple back to Saudi Arabia before being acquired by their mechanic, John Kolkka.

He took it to the USA, and had it restored and painted black.

In 2019 it was restored again, and returned to the original specification of purple with white accents.

11. 1928 Bugatti Type 35C

This unrestored Bugatti Type 35C is one of 250 versions of the model built, and features a supercharged, 2-litre, eight-cylinder engine.

A popular car among privateer racers, this was the case with this example; after a season with the works team in 1928 it was campaigned extensively by privateers.

It has never been restored or painted.

12. 1960 Ferrari 250GT SWB

This car is the 54th of 166 steel-bodied cars made, and was originally delivered in the unique colour combination of Grigio Fumo with a brown leather interior.

After five years with its first owner, this classic Ferrari was exported to the USA and finished in red.

It has since had a nut-and-bolt restoration back to its original specification.

13. 1967 Fiat Dino Aerodinamica

Designed by Paolo Martin, the Dino Aerodinamica was unveiled at the Paris motor show in 1967, originally finished in white.

Heavily inspired by the works of aerodynamicist Wunibald Kamm, it was later revised for the 1968 Geneva motor show with a slimmer rear profile and retractable headlamp covers, as well as new paint.

It stayed in the Pininfarina collection until 1990; it now has 6000km (around 3700 miles) on the odometer.

14. 1923 Diatto Tipo 20S 

This Diatto Tipo 20S was first sold in France, with its bare chassis sent to Mouche & Cie to be bodied in the Torpedo style, with wide wings and a boat tail. It played a prominent role in Diatto’s advertising of the time.

In later life it was discovered in Japan, still equipped with its original interior.

It was restored and returned to its original livery, while the leather interior was preserved.

15. 1927 Bentley 3 Litre

This Bentley 3 Litre is the only surviving works Bentley from the 1927 Le Mans 24 Hours race.

Driven by George Duller and Baron d’Erlanger, it was involved in a huge crash at White House Corner that retired the car.

It was repaired by Bentley after the race and campaigned at Brooklands in 1928, with privateers continuing its competition career through the 1930s.

More recently, this Bentley was subject to a 10-year restoration to original specification, though it retains its original dashboard, racing instruments and fuel tank.

16. 1966 Ferrari 330GTC

This Ferrari 330GTC was first delivered to Switzerland with the unique colour scheme of Verdi Chiaro over Pelle Nera Franzi.

It was later sold to Caracas, Venezuela, before moving to the USA in 2015. It then headed to the UK, where it was restored back to its original specification.

17. 1966 Aston Martin DB5 Shooting Brake

Aston Martin owner David Brown had a small problem: he owned a car company, but it didn’t provide a car suitable for his dog.

It turned out that it was a problem shared by several of his customers, so Radford Coachbuilders was called upon to provide a new, extended steel roof.

This conversion added £2000 to the £4400 base price of an Aston Martin DB5.

Just 12 were ever built, and this is one of four left-hand-drive examples.

First delivered to the USA, it came to Switzerland in 1988 and was restored by Aston Martin Works in the early 1990s.

18. 1972 Mercedes-Benz 600

Also known as the Grosser, the Mercedes-Benz W100 600 was the ultimate offering from the marque and beloved by chairmen, celebrities and political leaders alike.

This particular car was first delivered to Dieter Holterbusch in New York, who was a member of the Lowenbrau brewery family.

He took the brave decision to order his in red, making it one of just two out of the 2677 built to be finished in this colour.

19. 1955 Maserati A6GCS/53 Spyder Frua

The Maserati A6GCS/53 Spyder is already rare – just 48 were ever built.

However, in 1954, Maserati dealer Guglielmo Dei ordered a series of special-order cars. Four would be bodied by Pinin Farina, plus one by Frua.

Dei was so happy with the Frua design he ordered two extra chassis be clothed in the same way. All three were finished in 1955, and just two are believed to survive.

20. 1988 Porsche 959 Komfort

The Porsche 959 celebrates its 40th birthday this year.

Designed to be a halo model for a new range that would have replaced the Porsche 911 turbo, it nonetheless became a hypercar hero along with the Ferrari 288GTO and F40, even though its maker made a loss on each car.

This example was first sold to German pianist and international conductor Professor Justus Frantz in Hamburg in 1988, and is believed to be the only one finished in Dark Blue K5 with a Navy Blue interior.

21. 1933 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Phantom II Continental

This Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental was first commissioned by a cotton-mill owner from Manchester by the name of Sir John Leigh.

Bodied by Freestone & Webb, it was one of the very first vehicles to exhibit ‘razor edge’ design, emphasising straight lines rather than curves.

22. 1934 Cadillac V16

One of just five coupés of the 60 Cadillac V16 chassis built, and is one of only four surviving from those made between 1934 and 1937.

It was originally delivered to FE Davison of Toronto, Canada; it was sold to Wendell Flynn in New York three years later.

John Serafin acquired this Cadillac in 1975 and kept it for the next 35 years.

It has now been restored to its original colours of Quebec Gray with a French Blue interior.

23. 1966 Ferrari 275GTS

This Ferrari 275GTS is the 189th of 200 built, and was first delivered to the brother of King Hassan II of Morocco, Prince Moulay.

The Prince already owned a Ferrari 250GT Cabriolet Series II, and King Hassan also ordered a 275GTS himself.

To match the national colours of Morocco, the car was painted in Verde Pino Metallizzato with a cream leather interior.

After Morocco the car spent time in the USA, before returning to Europe in the 1980s.

At one point it was finished in red with a black interior, but a 2001 repaint saw the colour scheme returned to how the car was first delivered.

24. 1995 McLaren F1

This McLaren F1, chassis 43 of 106 built, was first ordered by Motokatzu Sayama, the owner of Ueno Clinic, a healthcare clinic in Japan.

He specified the exterior to match his Mercedes-Benz SL.

Ueno Clinic became the sponsor of the factory prototype F1 GTR racing car that won the 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours, and on the back of the sponsorship, Masanori Sekiya got a seat in the car and became the first Japanese driver to win at Le Mans.

The racing car was also repainted two-tone grey to match Sayama’s road car.

This car won the public vote at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2024.

25. 1971 Maserati Quattroporte AM121 

This prototype Maserati Quattroporte is one of only two built with Frua coachwork – the other was delivered to the Aga Khan.

Based on the Maserati Indy, but with 22cm (8.7in) added to the platform, the Quattroporte was powered by a 4.7-litre V8.

This car was displayed at motor shows such as Paris and Barcelona, and lived in Barcelona with its first owner.

It remained in the Barcelona area until 1988, when it was bought by Kurt A Kunti from Alicante, who had the car restored.

It later made its way to the USA before the current Belgian owner acquired it.