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There are many definitive examples of this
cautious approach to its development, such as the introduction
of the Concept Car competition, the initiation of the Design
Talk, and the opening up of the Concorso to a wider audience
with the public day on Sunday. 2011 sees a whole quartet of key
changes: the new date at the end of May, the introduction of a
second public day on Saturday, the first Concorso d’Eleganza
Villa d’Este for motorcycles and, last but not least, a high-end
car sale by RM Auction held during the Concorso.
It was the positive and, above
all, growing acclaim over recent years which the Concorso
d’Eleganza elicited on the Sunday that prompted the decision to
offer the public an added attraction on the Saturday. That it
would be a motorcycle concours awaiting the fans of classic
beauties in the grounds of Villa Erba was an obvious move for
Karl Baumer: “BMW is one of the most successful and traditional
motorcycle manufacturers in the world, which makes it a
nobrainer to introduce a motorcycle concours – especially as
two-wheelers often fall short on the design front.” There will
be five competition categories, as well as an hors concours
design show.
Based on the criteria familiar
from the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este – such as design,
state of preservation and originality – a jury of five will
select the best in class and an overall winner from among the 40
or so competing motorcycles. In this first year there will be no
prizes awarded by public referendum. “That is sure to follow in
the coming years, but our aim right now is to create a new
pillar for the Concorso step by step and with due caution,” says
Karl Baumer.
BMW 328 Sport
This year BMW marks the 75th
birthday of the BMW 328. The celebrations will kick off not far
from Lake Como – at the Mille Miglia, where the BMW 328 racing
car will be the centre of attention. A week later, at the
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the spotlight will turn on the
functional aesthetics of this legendary two-seater. “There is no
doubt that, with the BMW 328, our predecessors created an icon
of motoring history which to this day still defines the style of
two-seaters produced by our company,” says Karl Baumer,
underlining the significance of the BMW 328. It remains unclear
what kind of birthday present will be appropriate for such an
outstanding representative of the BMW product family – “But
we’ll definitely come up with something special,” says the
Director BMW Group Classic in happy anticipation of the party to
be held on the shores of Lake Como.
As every year, the competition for
the classic cars will be divided into several vehicle groups.
Split up into eight different categories, the 50 or so classics
will await the verdict of the five-strong jury. A novel aspect
this year is the special focus within the competition: under the
overarching theme of “the sixties”, around 20 iconic automobiles
in three vehicle categories will represent this style-setting
decade for the motoring enthusiasts gathered at Lake Como. The
names of the sixties vehicle categories alone promise a high
level of quality and style-consciousness: “The Glamour”, “The
Sport” and “The Unexpected”.
For the Concorso d’Eleganza
competition, the selecting committee has once again picked some
unusual beauties from six decades of automotive history. During
the annual press conference at the Geneva Motor Show the
selecting commitee offered a few tasters from the exclusive
field of participants.
Rolls-Royce Phantom II Special
Town Car, Brewster, 1933
The Rolls-Royce from American
Rolls-Royce dealer and coachbuilder Brewster&Co is nothing less
than the most expensive car of its inception year. But it wasn’t
just the price tag that lent it a superlative status in motoring
history – it was the car’s design as well. This Rolls-Royce
Phantom II blends styling elements of its day into a harmonious
and unique whole. The long bonnet, the low-slung greenhouse and,
not least, the V-shaped windscreen are the defining features of
this one-off. Its inner values are similarly unmatched:
gold-plated hardware, indirect lighting and highgrade leather,
along with wool carpeting, are designed to spoil and cosset its
occupants. All in all, these attributes make up what countless
experts deem one of the best and most significant Rolls- Royces
ever built.
Jaguar E-Type Coupé, 1961
The Jaguar E-Type ranks among the
most famous cars in the world. For many auto fans, its shape
remains to this day a stunning synthesis of athleticism and
delectable design language. But beyond the features it shares
with all its sibling production models, this E-Type boasts a
unique history. It made its appearance at the 1961 Geneva Motor
Show, and thus counts among the first E-Types ever built. Over
the decades, however, its distinguished origins fell into
obscurity – until 1999, that was, when an ad appeared in a Swiss
paper and it quickly emerged that this was the “Geneva car”. A
Swiss collector undertook a comprehensive restoration of this
“first-born” EType based on original documentation. It would be
almost a decade before the work was completed. This rare E-Type
differs from the production model in more than 30 ways, inside
and out. There’s an opportunity to identify them at this year’s
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
Alfa Romeo TZ2 Coupé, Zagato, 1965
Alfa Romeo presented the TZ model
at the 1962 Turin Motor Show as a roadgoing racing car. It
derives the T in its nomenclature from tubolare, a reference to
its tubular spaceframe, and the Z from Zagato, the
coachbuilders. A limited production run of no more than 102 was
built until 1965, before the Alfa Romeo TZ2 would prove far more
successful on the race track. Output had been raised to 165 hp,
while its weight was once again whittled down, this time to 620
kg, and the chassis was also improved. Alfa Romeo clocked a
breathtaking top speed of 265 km/h for its sports car. With the
TZ2, coachbuilders Zagato turned out a significant example of
Italian car design of the 1960s. By the time production ended in
1967, just 12 examples had left the construction hall. This is
yet another example of a car that is not only an exceptional
beauty, but also a hand-picked rarity, being showcased at the
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2011.
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa
d’Este 2011
On the weekend of 20 - 22 May
2011, the splendid grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and
neighbouring Villa Erba in Cernobbio on Lake Como will once
again serve as a unique stage for the most beautiful cars and
motorcycles from the past and the most extravagant concept cars
of today. First held in 1929 at the same venue, the Concorso
d’Eleganza Villa d’Este ranks today as the world’s most
traditional event of its kind.
Following the launch of the event
for invited guests in the grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa
d’Este on Saturday, the Concorso gives all car and motorcycle
fans an opportunity to experience these dreams on two and four
wheels in the park of the adjacent Villa Erba on Saturday and
Sunday. In addition to the cars and motorcycles already
presented on the previous day, there will be numerous other
high-end classics on display in special exhibitions.
Photos: BMW
(March 9, 2011)
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