The annual summer celebration of Italian classic car society, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, was held from May 23rd to 25th, 2025, on the shores of Lake Como. Once again, cars steeped in history unfolded a magnificent panorama by the lakeside.

"Unlike the Pebble Beach Concours in California, which features over 200 participating cars, the charm of Villa d’Este lies in its ability to maintain an exclusive atmosphere without succumbing to excessive scale," remarked one European enthusiast.

At the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, the event's venue since its inception in 1929, sponsor BMW unveiled the "Concept Speedster" to the world before the main participants took center stage. This shooting brake carries forward the design language of the "Concept Skytop" convertible announced the previous year.

It is powered by a 4.4-liter V8 twin-turbo engine, with a limited production run of 70 units planned. European media reports suggest a rumored price of €500,000 (approximately ¥84.7 million).

Fifty-four historic cars participated across eight classes. The oldest was a 1927 Rolls-Royce "20HP," entered in the "Frozen in Time—Unrestored Cars from 1900 to 1973" class. It is astonishing to learn that its previous owner used this model, affectionately known as the "Baby Rolls," daily for 55 years until his passing at the age of 94 in 2017.

In contrast, the youngest vehicle was a 2007 Maserati "MC12 Corsa." This car was part of the "Go Big or Go Home—Cars Pushing the Limits of Speed, Price, and Design from the 1980s to the 2000s" class. Only three road-going versions of this model were ever built.

On the lush green lawns, judges conducted their inspections as is tradition. Owners and their mechanics had to briefly present documentation related to the car's history and start the engine to demonstrate its pristine condition. It was a moment of tension, observed with keen interest by some of the guests.

Following lunch, the parade and awards ceremony for each class commenced. While the weather had been unfavorable in recent years, fortunately, this year was blessed with clear skies.

The climax, the "Coppa d'Oro" award decided by public vote, was presented this year to a 1957 "BMW 507 Roadster." It was entered in the "The Importance of Style—Where Luxury Meets Elegance on the Eve of Timeless Change" class.

The 507 is a masterpiece designed by Albrecht von Goertz. It is also known for its spirited competition against formidable rivals like the Mercedes-Benz "300SL" and Ferrari "250GT," piloted by Hans Stuck.

However, high development and manufacturing costs led to commercial failure, not only hindering BMW's business but also jeopardizing its financial stability. The participating car was one of the early models, of which only 45 were produced.

Meanwhile, the Best of Show award was announced the following day after the public viewing at Villa Erba. This award was decided by a panel of 13 judges, who selected the 1934 Alfa Romeo "Tipo B (P3)."

This car, which brought numerous successes to drivers like Achille Varzi and Louis Chiron under Scuderia Ferrari, the manufacturer's semi-official team, boasts a history befitting Villa d’Este. It was one of six cars entered in the "Running Sculptures—Cars That Competed in Races from 1928 to 1938" class.

In the Concept Cars / One-Offs category, where five cars participated, the award went to the Alfa Romeo "8C Doppia Coda Zagato."

Zagato, having participated in the development of the "8C Competizione," designed this car for a specific client, leveraging their expertise from that era. According to Chief Designer Norihiko Harada, over ten form revisions were attempted to express Zagato's signature flowing lines.

Interestingly, another Alfa Romeo was present in the same class: a 1938 "8C2900MM" with a Touring body. This car, chassis number 412030, has a thrilling racing history.

It competed in the Mille Miglia in the same year it was built, driven by Carlo Pintacuda. An unexpected brake failure at the final checkpoint forced a 30-minute pit stop. However, thanks to the driver's exceptional skill, the car still managed to finish in second place.

After World War II, it was brought to the United States, where Phil Hill, who would later become an F1 World Champion, drove it to victory in the Pebble Beach Road Race.

Its owner since 2004 is Ralph Lauren, the American fashion mogul also known as one of the world's foremost car collectors. Since then, restoration efforts have been underway to return it to its condition during the Mille Miglia. It first won the pre-war Alfa Romeo class at Pebble Beach in 2005.

This year, it received a special mention award selected by the presidents of the world's four major concours. During the parade, his son, Andrew, rode in the passenger seat, expressing his joy with a smile, "I was able to bring my father's car back home (to Italy)."

When Lauren's 8C2900MM appeared, Simon Kidston, the Geneva-based classic car specialist who hosts the event annually, exclaimed in Italian, "The exhaust note, the gear sounds, the smell… this is an Alfa. It's pure musica (music)!"

Speaking of music, the "Canto del Motore" award, now in its third year and chosen by tenor Jonas Kaufmann—who once worked as a chauffeur at a BMW event during his student days—was presented to a 1956 Aston Martin "DB3S."

As streets become filled with the digital proximity alerts of EVs and hybrids, the analog sounds and noises emitted by historic cars become increasingly precious. The ability to appreciate the finest of these is another pleasure of Villa d’Este.