Europe's Oldest Automotive Concours

Respecting the past, nurturing culture. This ethos permeates European society across fashion, art, and architecture. Automotive culture is no exception.

The "Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este," known as Europe's oldest automotive concours, was held from May 23rd to 25th at the Grand Hotel Villa d'Este, a luxury resort on Italy's Lake Como.

Villa d'Este, which emphasizes design and elegance, celebrates the beauty of automobiles. Fifty-one rare and celebrated cars, selected from 200 entries, were gathered in the gardens, where discerning ladies and gentlemen admired the historic vehicles in a festive atmosphere.



Villa d'Este dates back to 1929. In those days, before cars were widespread, most manufacturers produced engines, drivetrains, and chassis, while coachbuilders, with their expertise in carriage construction, were responsible for the bodies, a common practice until the 1940s. Consequently, the upper class competed in design, placing bespoke orders, and Villa d'Este served as the venue for their unveiling and garden parties.

Fast forward to the 21st century. Revived today as a festival for historic cars, Villa d'Este is primarily sponsored by the German automaker BMW, which actively promotes activities that honor heritage and transcend eras and trends to preserve culture. The watch brand A. Lange & Söhne also supports this cause, having done so since 2012.

This year, special classes were established to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Rolls-Royce and the 100th anniversary of Maserati. Nine classes were featured, showcasing rare historic cars from pre-war models of the 1900s to those from the 1970s.

A Legendary Abarth Enters from Japan

Villa d'Este, built in the 16th century, means "residence of the Este family." Beyond it, the azure lake stretches out as it always has, with the majestic peaks of the Alps rising in the distance. On a clear Saturday morning, we arrived at the villa by boat. In the gardens, pre-war models such as the 1908 Rolls-Royce "Silver Ghost," the Alfa Romeo "6C 1750 GS," and the BMW "328" greeted visitors.

It is said that all the cars unveiled are making their public debut. Faced with an endless array of magnificent cars, one can only sigh in admiration.



While examining a car that caught my eye, the owner, to my delight, enthusiastically began to share its story. The conversation flowed, starting with how they acquired the car, the history of its previous owners, and how faithfully it has been kept original, referencing period documents.

Among the highlights was the Fiat "Abarth 2000 Scorpione" entered from Japan. This is a one-off model created by Pininfarina in 1969. It made its world debut at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium and was exhibited in Tokyo at the special exhibition "Carrozzeria Italiana" in 1977.

The owner, Mr. Kosaka, purchased this model directly from Mr. Sergio Pininfarina at that event. After 37 years, it has returned to its native Italy in completely original condition. The area around this rare car was always crowded, undoubtedly leaving a significant impression on the audience. Furthermore, this Abarth 2000 Scorpione won its class (Class F).



And among the many awards at Villa d'Este, the "Best of Show" trophy this year, receiving the highest praise from both judges and attendees, was awarded to the dark blue 1956 "Maserati 450 S," owned by Swiss entrepreneur and collector Alberto Spies.

This two-seater racing car, with a 4.5-liter, 400hp engine and bodywork designed by Fantuzzi, was one of only nine produced by Maserati in Modena between 1956 and 1957. It was a truly fitting result for Maserati in its anniversary year.

Why A. Lange & Söhne Supports Villa d'Este

On the evening of the awards ceremony for the world's most renowned historic car concours, A. Lange & Söhne, the German watch brand that has been a supporter since 2012, unveiled the unique "Lange 1 Time Zone "Como Edition"" watch, crafted exclusively for the winner. It was presented to Mr. Spies, the owner of the "Best of Show" Maserati 450 S.

This special timepiece features a dual time zone display, with the A. Lange & Söhne's hand-engraved coat of arms meticulously rendered on the reverse of the 18K white gold case. The outer ring of the dial displays 24 world cities, with "COMO" inscribed in the Central European Time zone to honor the host city of the concours.

But why did A. Lange & Söhne begin supporting Villa d'Este? The answer is deeply rooted in the company's own history.

The 1956 "Maserati 450 S" that won "Best of Show" this year is a two-seater racing car, one of only nine produced in Modena between 1956 and 1957.

Founded in 1815, the brand's history began when Ferdinand Adolph Lange, who aspired to be a watchmaker under the tutelage of court watchmaker Friedrich Gutkaes in Dresden, opened his own workshop on the outskirts of the city.

Lange, who invented innovations such as the three-quarter plate, still renowned today as a traditional technique, grew to become a top brand in European watchmaking by the early 20th century. However, its operations were temporarily halted by World War II. After the war, the company was confiscated and became a state-owned enterprise in East Germany, and the name A. Lange & Söhne vanished from history.

However, with the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, a new chapter began. Walter Lange, the founder's great-grandson, masterfully revived the former watchmaking traditions in his homeland. He poured the accumulated expertise and decorative techniques from the Kingdom of Saxony era into wristwatches, successively releasing exquisite masterpieces like the "Lange 1" and "Datograph."──.

The "Lange 1 Time Zone "Como Edition"" presented to the owner of the Maserati 450 S, this year's Best of Show winner.

Finding value in timeless design, style, and elegance. This reflects the spirit of A. Lange & Söhne, reborn in the present day, respecting the past and nurturing culture. This sentiment may also be found in the speech delivered by CEO Wilhelm Schmid at the awards ceremony.

"Today is a utopia (a place yet unseen), tomorrow it becomes the standard, and eventually, it transcends into legend. Defining a new standard requires a spirit of progress and courage. But only by overcoming these challenges can universal icons be born," was Mr. Schmid's message.

Experiencing the Colors, Sounds, and Scents of Cars

Let us return to the topic of Villa d'Este. As mentioned earlier, this year's Villa d'Este concours featured nine classes. However, a special category, not to be missed, was dedicated to the best design for concept cars and prototypes. This was an attempt to revive the tradition of coachbuilders unveiling new models in competition.

Particularly intriguing was the concept model presented by BMW, the main sponsor of Villa d'Este. The "Mini Superleggera Vision," based on a Mini and bodied by the Italian coachbuilder Touring Superleggera, caused a stir among the attendees with its sudden appearance. Its design garnered much applause and significant interest from our publication.



Before coming to Villa d'Este, there was one fact I was unaware of: on Sunday, the final day, the venue for the public viewing shifts from Villa d'Este to Villa Erba, located nearby. The vast grounds of Villa Erba transform into a grand festival, attracting a large crowd of families and couples of all ages.

Of course, the cars on display are the same as the previous day. Anyone can view them by purchasing an admission ticket. It's a pleasant way to spend a leisurely day, perhaps with a beer or champagne in hand, relaxing on the lawn in a picnic-like atmosphere.