The Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este is the most traditional prize awarded during the weekend of classic cars staged
by the BMW Group and the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como.
It was the namesake of the first beauty contest for automobiles, which was held at the same venue in 1929.
At that time and in the subsequent years, the most beautiful new cars launched on the automobile market
were presented in the park of the luxury hotel located in Cernobbio, Northern Italy. Since the 1980s, the
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este has been dedicated to the history of the automobile.
Following the victory of the Lancia Astura Serie II, the Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este goes to a vehicle
manufactured in Italy for the third time in succession. The current winner provided an impressive performance
right from the start with the stylishly contoured, streamlined coachwork.
No less fascinating is the history that is intimately associated with this exterior. The Lancia Astura Serie II
was only given its outer skin at specialist coachbuilder Castagna eighteen months after it was first registered
and at the behest of Benito Mussolini’s son Vittoria. Moreover, the wheelbase had to be substantially
shortened for the rework, apparently after the vehicle had already campaigned on the race track. In addition,
the original 2.6 litre eight-cylinder engine was replaced by a three-litre V8 engine generating 82 hp from the
Lancia Astura Serie III, which still powers the coupé to this day.
Owner Antonius Meijer, who was already awarded a Special Prize by the Jury in 2008 with a Bugatti 57 SC
Atalante manufactured in 1937, commented after the presentation ceremony for the prize: “This is fantastic.
The Lancia underwent a very comprehensive restoration over a period of eight years. Actually, I only came
here to have fun and to enjoy the atmosphere. I am very surprised to have won this wonderful trophy and
naturally I am absolutely delighted.”
This is not the first time that the prizewinning Lancia has been a guest at the beauty contest beside Lake
Como. The car was already presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in autumn of 1935. At its
second appearance in Cernobbio, the Lancia Astura Serie II was classified in the Class B “Pre-1945
Supercars – The Fast and the Flamboyant” and in the battle for the favour of the Jury, the car is in competition
for the associated class victory with rare automobiles from the marques Bugatti, Aston Martin, Austro Daimler
and Alfa Romeo.
This year, a total of 52 historic automobiles and 35 classic motorcycles are competing for the votes of the
visitors in the public referendum and the Jury. The six candidates in the category “Concept Cars and
Prototypes” provide a glimpse of the current visions for fascinating models of the future. The motto of this
year’s event “Back to the Future – the Journey continues” emphasises the dedication of the beauty
competition organised by BMW Group and the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este to creating an arc between the past,
present and future of the automobile. The individual class winners will be named on the last day of the event
before the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016 reaches its climax with the award of Best of Show and the
conferment of the Trofeo BMW Group on the Sunday evening.
At the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016, the specialist Jury composed of international experts declared
the first winners on Saturday. The awards conferred across all classes saluted the best preserved pre-war and
post-war cars in the contest, the “Best Iconic Car”, the most elegant vehicle of the marque Rolls-Royce, the
most sensitive restoration, the most beautiful interior design and the most spectacular exterior, as well as the
car driven from farthest away.
Awards for the best preserved pre-war and post-war automobiles in the contest,
the best iconic vehicle, the most elegant vehicle of the marque Rolls-Royce, the best interior design, the most
spectacular exterior, the most sensitive restoration and the car driven from farthest away
The world’s most exclusive beauty contest for historic automobiles and motorcycles comes to an end on
Sunday with the award of the class winners and the conferment of the Trofeo BMW Group for the Best of
Show.The list of winning vehicles is provided below including the starting number, year of manufacture and
owner:
Trofeo BMW Group - Best in Show by the Jury
Maserati, A6 GCS, Berlinetta, Pinin Farina, 1954, Destriero Collection, MC
Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este - Best of Show by Public Referendum at Villa d’Este
Lancia, Astura II Serie, Berlinetta, Castagna, 1933, Antonius Meijer, NL
FIVA World Motoring Heritage Year UNESCO Patronage - Best Preserved Vehicle
Alfa Romeo, Giulietta SZ, Coupé, Zagato, 1961, Corrado Lopresto, I
Trofeo BMW Group Italia - By Public Referendum at Villa Erba
Lamborghini, Miura P 400 SV, Coupé, Bertone, 1971, Adrien Labi, US
Trofeo BMW Group Ragazzi - By Young People’s Referendum (until the age of 16)
Lancia, Stratos, Coupé, Bertone, 1975, Marco Magnani, I
Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes - By Public Referendum at Villa Erba
Alfa Romeo, Disco Volante by Touring, Touring, 2016, Touring Superleggera, I
Class Winners and Mention of Honour
CLASS A: PRE WAR DECADENCE
Class Winner
Lancia, Astura IV Serie, Convertibile, Pinin Farina, 1937, Saulius Karosas, LT
Mention of Honor
Squire, 1 ½ Long Chassis, 4-Seat Tourer, Ranalah, 1935, Peter Neumark, UK
CLASS B: PRE 1945 SUPERCARS
Class Winner
Lancia, Astura, II Serie, Berlinetta, Castagna, 1933, Antonius Meijer, NL
Mention of Honor
Bugatti, 57 SC Atalante, Coupé, Bugatti, 1937, Kriton Lendoudis, GR
CLASS C: SUR MESURE ET HAUTE COUTURE
Class Winner
Bentley, T Speciale, Coupé, Pininfarina, 1968, Anthony Bamford, UK
Mention of Honor
Rolls-Royce, Phantom IV, Sedanca de Ville, Hooper, 1952, Ion Triac, RO
CLASS D: PETITE PERFORMANCE
Class Winner
Maserati, A6 GCS, Berlinetta, Pinin Farina, 1954, Destriero Collection, MC
Mention of Honor
Fiat, 8V Supersonic, Coupé, Ghia, 1954, Marc Behaegel, B
CLASS E: DARING TO BE DIFFERENT
Class Winner
Fiat, 8V, Coupé, Zagato, 1955, Jack Crowl, US
Mention of Honor
Maserati, 200 SI, Barchetta, Fantuzzi, 1957, Egon Zweimüller, AT
CLASS F: CARS OF THE STARS
Class Winner
Ferrari, 275 GTB/4, Berlinetta, Scaglietti, 1967, David Moores, UK
Mention of Honor
Dual-Ghia, Convertibile, Ghia, 1957, Arnold Stevens, US
CLASS G: GT MAN IS BACK
Class Winner
Aston Martin, DB 4 GT Zagato, Coupé, Zagato, 1961, David Sydorick, US
Mention of Honor
Bizzarrini, 1900 GT Europa, Coupé, Labronplastic, 1968, Peter Mooser, CH
CLASS H: DRIVEN BY EXCESS
Class Winner
Lamborghini, Countach “Walter Wolf”, Coupé, Bertone, 1976, Jota Collection, I
Mention of Honor
Lamborghini, Athon, Roadster, Bertone, 1980, Albert Spiess, CH
CLASS I: RALLY CARS
Class Winner
Ford, Escort RS 1600, Saloon, Ford, 1972, Claude Nahum, CH
Mention of Honor
Porsche, 911, Coupé, Porsche, Rolf Richter, D
Special Prizes
Trofeo FIVA - To the best preserved pre war-car
Alfa Romeo, RL Normale, Coupé de Ville, Farré, 1925, Manfred Sontheimer, D
Trofeo ASI - To the best preserved post war-car
Maserati, 200 SI, Barchetta, Fantuzzi, 1957, Egon Zweimüller, AT
Special Prizes by the Jury
Trofeo BMW Group Classic - For the most sensitive restoration by the Jury
Bentley, S2 Continental, Fastback Coupé, H.J. Mulliner, 1960, Fred Kritz , MC
Trofeo Rolls-Royce - To the most elegant Rolls-Royce by the Jury
Rolls-Royce, Phantom IV, Sedanca de Ville, Hooper, 1962, Ion Tiriac, RO
Trofeo Vranken Pommery - To the best iconic car by the Jury
Bugatti, 57 SC Atalante, Coupé, Bugatti, 1937, Kriton Lendoudis, GR
Trofeo Foglizzo - The best interior design by the Jury
Dual-Ghia, Convertibile, Ghia, 1957, Arnold Stevens, US
Trofeo Auto & Design - To the most exciting design by the Jury
Lamborghini, Athon, Roadster, Bertone, 1980, Albert Spiess, CH
Trofeo Automobile Club di Como - To the car driven from farthest away
AC, Aceca Bristol, Coupé, AC, 1956, Francis Maret, CH
Images ... Peter Singhof
www.ClassicCarPhotography.de
.
Related material
... Download Entry List with Chassis Numbers and Award Winners (.docx format) >>>
|
