‘Concorso d’eleganza per automobili, città di Torino’.
26th-27th May 2007, Piazza Castello, Turin Italy.
Despite heavy rain there was no dampening of spirits in Turin’s regal Piazza Castello for the second edition of the re-launched ‘Concorso d’eleganza per automobili, città di Torino’. The very first edition of this, the oldest of its kind in Italy, was in 1923, six years before Villa D’este first celebrated the beauty of the automobile.
This years jury was headed by renowned car designer Tom Tjaarda (of De Tomaso Pantera fame) and included new chief of the Fiat Group design centre, ex-Pininfarina design director Lorenzo Ramaciotti among other car designers, journalists and selected experts.
Although predominantly Italian the list of entries included some fantastic foreign machinery including Bentley, Mercedes 300SL ‘Gullwing’ and a stunning 1958 Porsche 356A which won the prize for best restoration, 8 years of on/off hard work finally paying off for owner/restorer Gabriele Panagin. At the other end of the originality spectrum was a pristine 1958 Lancia B20 Coupe that has never been touched, a careful balance of regular use and tender loving care contributing to this wonderful time-warp car.
Collective stars of the show were 5 Lancia Asturas ranging from a 1937 ex-military Cabriolet to a stunning 1939 Pininfarina 241 Coupe. Equally elegant was the 1939 Fiat 1500 B 6c Touring Superleggera Coupe, one of only four made. This particular car is one of the first two prototypes with the aerodynamic arrow shaped nose section.
A 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II, the actual car that won the 1936 Monaco Concorso D’eleganza, was fresh from a ground up restoration but best of show went to the 1931 Fiat 525SS of Giorgio Caprara. The beautiful hand painted pin striping put this car in a class of its own. The ‘impossible to find’ fabric for the elegant convertible roof panels represents the last known piece of the actual original material used on this super charged Fiat. Finds of this kind are increasingly rare, in this case the restoration was aided by the endlessly knowledgeable founding director of A.S.I. (Automotoclub Storico Italiano) Veniero Molari.
Although only in its second year, this contest seems well placed to grow into one of Europe’s premier events. Not only is the host setting arguably the world’s most important ‘motor city’ but the cars and the characters that are found locally add to the richness of the experience.
Bentley R type with body by Mulliner.
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Fiat 525 SS. Absolutely stunning, a well deserved win.
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Fiat 1500B, a 6 Cylinder with a Touring body.
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Lancia Astura with body by Pinin Farina.
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Lancia Astura Stabilimenti Farina.
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Rolls Royce Phantom II.
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Porsche 356A.
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Mercedes Benz Gullwing.
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A Ferrari waits out the rain.
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