The show seems to be able to ring the changes each year with the various club having displays, which
provides something fresh for the visitors. As an example this year there was a stand featuring some quite
exotic American muscle custom cars, another for the Legend Cars race series, whilst the Abarth Club Milano
stand featured modern examples in “personalised” form together an example of the new 695 Anniversary
Edition. Of the dealer stands, the British based Vintage & Prestige concern had a choice selection of pre-war
offerings, including a 1938 Lagonda LG6 Drop Head Coupé and a 1931 Fiat 514 MM Spider Then there are
always the rarities and obscure models to be found on the various stands, like a Renault 4 Beach Car and a
cute 1979 Automirage Pick-Wick, a Fiat 126 based beach car confection produced in only 60 examples,
whilst another cute car for sale was a 1957 Fiat 600 Coupé Granluce by Viotti. Porsche specialist
Autorlando-Sport had an impressive and colourful display of racing Porsche 911 variants, together with a
914/6 and a 904 GTS bare shell and chassis frame.
The ASI (Automotoclub Storica Italiano) and CMAE (Club Milanase Automotoveicolo d’Epoca) featured the
centenary of Zagato on their stands, with a fine selection of the carrozzeria’s offerings over the years. These
included a 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 CS “Testafissa”, a pair of Fiat 8Vs, an Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale (née
Dodge Viper), and a bright orange Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Sport Spider from 1968, with full aluminium body, of which
only two were built and the example on display is the only surviving example. Probably the biggest surprise in
this display was the rare appearance of the Ferrari Testarossa based FZ 93, built on chassis number 83935,
the F1 inspired creation from the pen of then Zagato chief designer Ercole Spada. Another carrozzeria had
their own stand, this being Touring Superleggera, with an Alfa Romeo study in black and white, the black
being a 1948 6C 2500 Freccia d’Oro, and the white a sixties 2600 Spider.
This year there was a strong Ferrari presence, with a three car display just inside the main entrance, which
comprised of the factory built 125 S Replica, a 2002 F1 car and a 250 GT SWB Berlinetta. Then there was a
further Ferrari display around the organiser’s central office and VIP hospitality lounge, where there was an
expansive range of classic examples. This ran from a pair of fifties models, a 342 America Coupé and a 250
Europa Coupé, a pair of Dino 246 GTS models, a 250 GT PF S2 Cabriolet, to a pair of studies in black, in the
forms of a 275 GTB and a 330 GTC. Rossocorsa, the official dealer in Milano, also had an eclectic display,
which included an early production Dino 246 GT, a Dino 308 GT4 prepared for the Peking-Paris rally raid,
examples of the F40 and F50 supercars and an 812 Superfast in an attractive retro livery. The Musei Ferrari
also had a stand, featuring a Monza SP1, together with pair of driving simulators for visitor’s enjoyment. If one
still craved for even more Ferraris, there were a number on offer around the halls on the various vendor stands,
including a LaFerrari in the Car e Car dealer display.
There was also an auction on the Saturday afternoon, by the Milanese auction house Wannenes, with a range
of cars and motorcycles on offer, ranging from a 1904 Ceirano De-Dion Bouton to a 2017 Abarth 595 Biposto,
with a diverse mix in between, including some nice classic Lancias, like a 1928 Aprilia and a 1951 Ardea,
plus a selection of Ferraris, including a GTS Turbo and a manual 430 Spider. As is normal at any classic car
show, there was an expansive vendor area for parts, accessories, models, brochures, books and associated
automobile ephemera, all adding to the variety of the mix and enjoyment of the show.
Keith Bluemel
11/2019
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