AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
The world’s most exclusive and traditional heritage event for historic automobiles and motorcycles will be held once more on the shores of Lake Como, Italy, in 2017.
The most beautiful classic vehicles will be presented at Cernobbio in Northern Italy from 26th to 28th of May 2017 in the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
The motto “Around the World in 80 Days – Voyage through an Era of Records” will take the story of automobile production from the early years( 19th Century) to the present day, and will even extend the trajectory into the future. This is because apart from award classes for the rarities from the past, the vehicle class for Concept Cars and Prototypes also presents a vision for the automobiles of the future.
The grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, one of the world’s leading hotels, are lapped by the waters of Lake Como and offer guests and visitors the opportunity to admire about 50 Historic Cars built between the 1920s and 1980s, organised by different categories.
The Eight Automobile Classes:
Class 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.
Class 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.
Class 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.
Class 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.
Class 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.
Class 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.
Class 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 frequentlyproduced sports car in this class still only achieved a total number of 21. Four of these sports cars remained absolutely unique.
Class H. Shaped by Speed: Racing through the Decades.
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.
The Five Motorcycle Classes:
For the seventh time, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este held on the shores of Lake Como will also rank among the world’s most exclusive highlights of the year for owners and fans of historic motorcycles. The heritage beauty contest for classic vehicles from different eras provides the backdrop for grand performances on both event days for the rare gems on two wheels.
Class A. Dreams and Adventures – Motorcycles of the 1920s and 1930s for the Great Journey.
Endurance motorcycles line up in this class. They enabled the dream of individual travel to be fulfilled nearly 100 years ago.
The Belgian“Gillet Tour du Monde” is here as well. It was the first motorcycle to travel round the world in 1926.
Class B. The Alternatives – 1950s Scooters that did not come from the Market Leaders.
This class shows the beginnings of the scooter boom from 1946. The aircraft group Piaggio launched the “Vespa” on the market and a string of other companies followed suit with a wide range of different designs.
Class C. The Originals – 1960s Street Scramblers from Japan.
In particular Japanese designers developed the “Scrambler” style with elevated exhaust pipes and handlebars. This is a trend that established the Scrambler as an independent motorcycle segment to the present day.
Class D. Framed in Europe – 1970s Fours in new Clothes.
The Honda CB 750 triggered a change in image. Machines with four cylinders were transformed from tourers into racing machines.
European specialists supplied new frames converting Japanese models and they even supplied complete motorcycles.
Class E. Motorcycle Design – New Concept Bikes and Prototypes.
Exciting Concept Bikes created in the design studios which have so far generally only been presented internally.
Special Exhibition. Youth Dreams – Sporting 50cc in Italy in the 1960s/1970s.
Small motorcycles with a displacement of 50 cc, 1.5 hp and a top speed of 40 km/h captivated teenagers in the 1960s and 1970s. Design inspired by motor sport provided the basis for these machines.
The Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and Villa Erba will once again be transformed into a unique and exclusive setting where guests are privileged to admire the finest historic vehicles and motorcycles of their eras.
An exclusive panel of jury members led by president Lorenzo Ramaciotti judges for the Best of Show prize, the BMW Group Trophy. This is awarded for an extraordinary automobile which expresses beauty, passion and uniqueness. One of the highlights in the grounds of Villa Erba will be the Motorcycle Concours, which will be held for the seventh consecutive year.
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este owes its very special status among the world’s prestigious heritage events for historic vehicles to a number of elements. They include the elegance of the event, its long and illustrious tradition, its unrivalled flair at a beautiful location situated directly on the shores of Lake Como, and the small and select groups of participants.
A Long Tradition:
The “Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este”, the international Concours d’élégance for motor cars, was held for the first time on the 1st of September 1929 following a joint initiative undertaken by the Automobile Club of Como, the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and the Comitato di Cura di Como. The fame of the venues, the logistically impeccable choices that brought into play the inimitable backcloth provided by the gardens of Villa Olmo and Villa d’Este, immediately raised this event head and shoulders above numerous similar shows held at other well-known venues.
With over eighty entries and cars of the highest quality right from the first event, the Concorso di Villa d’Este was on a par with prestigious concours events held in Paris and Monte Carlo. In what was soon to prove the marque’s swan song, the top prize was awarded to an Isotta Fraschini bodied by Sala.
Every two years, the famous auction house RM Sotheby’s comes to Cernobbio as a guest. Up to 70 classic automobiles will come under the auction hammer on the Saturday evening. Before the auction takes place, the precious rare treasures will be on view in the grounds of Villa Erba from 10.00 on the Friday morning. Entry is free of charge. Visitors will be able to view the auction itself live at the venue on the Saturday evening, or follow it on YouTube or on the website of RM Sotheby’s.
Over many years, this classic weekend has enjoyed a unique position among beauty contests for classic automobiles and motorcycles thanks to the elegance of the event, the unforgettable atmosphere, and the small, exclusive field of participants.
Concorso d´Eleganza Villa d´Este. One of the world´s most elegant and exclusive heritage event.
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