Como, 20 April, 2001
Prologue
The highlights
Villa Erba display
Plane tree exhibition
Vintage car display in Como
Epilogue
Prologue
Have you ever visited the lovely Lake Como in the very North of Italy in Spring ? No ? –
than this fact alone certainly would justify a trip down to Italy. But imagine this beautiful
scenery combined with even more beautiful vintage cars, all displayed on the estate of
one of the most charming and exclusive Hotel Resorts of the world – the famous Villa
d’Este -!
It’s almost impossible to describe how fantastic this event was but I try it this way:
This is an event where your wife or girlfriend never would say: ”Go ahead and leave
these old cars where they are – I want to go shopping !” This says all…
The highlights
A wide range of hugely differing cars could be seen this year, all built between 1950
and 1967. Oldest car ”on the grid” was a very cool looking Lancia Aurelia B 50 Pinin
Farina Cabriolet and the youngest participant was simply the highlight of this years
Concours d’Elegance:
Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Vignale Station Wagon s/n 7963
The fantastic and unique 1967 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Station Wagon, the very last Ferrari
Carrozzeria Vignale had bodied ! I’ve never seen this car before in reality but the
curious lines impressed me deeply. Already in 1968 this unusual metallic green
painted Ferrari was able to fascinate visitors of the 50th Turin Motor Show and it
hasn’t lost one dime of its fascination then.
Mr. Paturau from France, the lucky owner of this one-off, drove all the way from Paris to
the Villa d’Este. Guess, he and his wife had no problems with the luggage…
Lamborghini 400 GT Touring Flying Star II s/n 0904
Mr. Combes, also from Paris, followed him with a Lamborghini 400 GT s/n 0904, a car
which also was shown first on the Turin Motor Show but in 1966. Chassis 0904 ? Yes,
the famous one-off Touring bodied Flying Star ! Felice Bianchi Anderloni’s last
creation ! Do you need even more superlatives ?
Mr. Bianchi Anderloni personally awaited the arrival of this Lamborghini and
welcomed Mr. Combes very friendly with the words: ”I’m the man who designed your
car !”.
To achieve his aim, building a Station Wagon on a Lamborghini 400 GT, the chassis
had to be shortened from 2.55 cm to 2.45 cm which confers the Flying Star its
compactness. Together with the low roof line it looks very aggressive and more like a
Coupe than a Station Wagon ! Sadly, Touring’s last work remained an unique car
which later was sold on to Jacques Quoirez, the brother of the famous French writer
Francoise Sagan. Like the different ownerships it changed more than once its colour
from metallic silver to a bright yellow and back to silver.
Ferrari 340 America Touring barchetta s/n 0114 A
Very interesting because not seen very often in public the black 340 America Barchetta
of Louis Frey from Switzerland attracted a lot of attention. This 340 has spended all its
life in Switzerland; its first owner – Otto Wild from Muri – entered it in the Mille Miglia in
1951 but could not finish it in the end. From far away this Touring bodied Ferrari
barchetta looks exactly like a 166/212 MM but when you get closer you will notice that
the car is wider and bigger in every aspect although the proportions are the same.
Ferrari 212 Export Vignale Berlinetta s/n 0096 E
Erich Traber entered another important early Ferrari in the Concours – the 212 Export
Vignale Berlinetta s/n 0096 E. Raced very successfully by Jacques Peron in the 1951
Tour de France where it finished 2nd OA it later went to Lino Fayen, a rich Venezuelan
gentleman racer who lived in Paris in the Fifties. After a long racing career with Fayen
this car was imported in 1956 into Switzerland. After the stock fall in the States last
November Mr. Traber took the chance and brought it back to Switzerland.
Aston Martin DB 4 Madness
To meet a Aston Martin DB 4 GT is a rare sight when you know that only 75 were
produced. Standing a DB 4 GT Zagato next to it, we’d certainly call this ”Aston Martin
Heaven” ! 19 DB 4 GT chassis got this exceptional Zagato bodywork – one of the great
milestones in the Automobile era. But… Mr. Weidmann from Switzerland could
present an even more exclusive Aston Martin DB 4 GT – the DB 4 GT Jet from Bertone
! This is an unique Aston Martin though the lines – especially the front - remember a
little bit the also Bertone styled Ferrari 250 GT SWB one off s/n 1739 GT.
What an exhibition: Three completely different bodyworks on the same chassis !
Villa Erba display
On Saturday morning, all Concours participants drove at the shores of Lake Como to
Como’s famous Piazza Cavour where the cars were displayed in an quadrate.
Unfortunately the weather could not manage with all these wonderful cars and so it
tried to sabotage this display with rain and cold temperatures. But in the afternoon the
sun came out and made the Villa Erba display – a conference centre with park
grounds besides the Villa d’Este Resort – to an unforgettable event.
Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Coupe
All those who want to see the only Disco Volante Coupe normally only have the
opportunity to visit Alfa Romeo’s own Museo Storico. But not at this weekend ! An
almost complete Alfa Romeo exhibition could be presented in the foreground of Villa
Erba and the Museo Storico had brought two cars with them. The one and only 2 litre
Disco Volante Coupe s/n 1359.00003 and the aggressive looking ‘308’ which was
entered by Raymond Sommer and Clemente Biondetti at Le Mans in 1938. Sadly, they
had to retire after a race accident.
Plane tree exhibition
On Sunday afternoon, all Concours cars were displayed at the big plane tree terrace
of the Villa d’Este Hotel. Thanks to the kindness of the most owners they answered
the request of the photographers for the ultimate motive and posed their cars each
exactly in the best possible way. On the terrace, not only the cars were playing a big
role but also the personalities. There, you could get in touch with the already
mentioned Mr. Bianchi Anderloni, Sergio Scaglietti or Paul Frere.
Vintage car display in Como
Another interesting vintage car display could be seen in Como on Sunday morning.
The ”Como Cuore” a heart health syndicate organised this charity run through Como.
Though this exhibition contained more common cars like an Alfa Romeo Giulia SS or
Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider however it included one very special car, the Ferrari 166
Inter Vignale Coupe s/n 0065 S, a car which would have made a good entry at the Villa
d’Este Concours, too.
Epilogue
At this point normally you have to publish the whole Concours result. But who cares ? I
couldn’t have made any decision between such exceptional cars.
Which car would you have chosen ?
The fantastic Aston Martin DB 4 GT Zagato or the unique Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Vignale
Station Wagon, the elegant Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 ”Villa d’Este” Cabriolet s/n 918089 or
the spectacular Lamborghini Flying Star II ?
Almost each car would have deserved the Best of Show – Award, so it’s your choice.
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