by Wallace Wyss –
One of the grandest concours in all the world has announced their schedule. What makes it grand is not only the cars, which include many one-off Italian cars, but the setting of the wonderful Lake Como (yes the place George Clooney lives).
It is set at a wonderful hotel, which is at least 200 years old. This year, emerging from the Covid, it’s a three day event culminating in the show at the Villa d’Este in Cernobbio. The dates are from 19th to 21st May 2023.
One can book tickets for the Saturday or the coveted and exclusive Friend of the Concorso Package, which includes entrance to the event and three nights of accommodation at the Villa d’Este.
For those to whom the one day price at $1,200 is a bit peaky, there’s news that there are other events, the Public Days where the public can see the cars at a minuscule of that price at the nearby gardens of Villa Erba over the weekend.
On Saturday there is a come-together at AMICI & AUTOMOBILI – WHEELS & WEISSWÜRSCHT. What they call “a charming Bavarian reinterpretation of the legendary Cars & Coffee events in the USA.”
On Sunday, the romantic parkland of Villa Erba will be the venue showcasing an exceptional and emotional festival for all the senses. They promise that all the participants in the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will present their historic cars to the public audience. The impressive parade is to be moderated by Simon Kidston, an exotic car dealer, and starts in the afternoon.
A Ferrari 812 Competizione with the Villa d’Este in the background, when it was still a private palace 200 years ago. (It’s been a hotel for only the last 150 years). For a list of Ferrari art write malibucarart@gmail.com
According to press releases there are two themes for the 2023 show. The two themes have already been defined, both of them celebrating momentous anniversaries. Under the title “A Century of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: heroes of the most famous race in the world”, one-of-a-kind racing cars from many decades will bear testimony to their achievements in this most popular of endurance races.
Another exciting class: “Porsche at 75: delving into the Stuttgart legend’s iconic and eccentric back catalogue”. The automaker officially celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023.
The website of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is here.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR Wallace Wyss reports weekly on new automotive developments on Autotalk’s radio show broadcast from KUCR FM Riverside, CA.
Darn, sold out. Oh well, Tucson’s Cars and Coffee starts in about 30 minutes. Ta Ta.
According to famed Ferrari mechanic Gary Bobileff of San Diego the other event at Villa Erba, which he describes as more of a “cars ‘n coffee” in’t quite free–around $35, and that occurs Sunday. He recommends also sitting at a cafe between the two villas and watching the cars drive by.