This European Car Show Is a Sight to Behold
Not every car show has a day-at-the-fair vibe. The Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance is open only to the super rich car enthusiast.
Written by Andrew Koole
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
When Americans think about
car shows
, they usually fall into two categories: they’re either a chance for car brands to show off their new models and ideas or they’re outdoor events where people park their classic cars
and families gorge on diner food and mini donuts.In Europe, these events look decidedly different. Take the Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance for example. Set in the posh Italian vacation spot of Lake Como, this annual event resembles the swankiness of California’s Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance is a car show all about rarity and class
Since 2008, the Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance has brought the best of European
auto design
to Cernobbio, Italy. Organized by BMW Group, the event primarily focuses on luxury models built between 1920 and 1989, with one category open for new concepts.It’s an understatement to call the vehicles shown at Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance classics. These vintage and antique models are some of the rarest cars in the world. The best word to describe them and the event where they were showcased is exclusive.
Only 50 vehicles are allowed to fill the car show’s eight categories. Automakers Mercedes, BMW, and
Ferrari
are given their own while other entrants are included for the era they represented, the records they set, or their forward-thinking designs.The exclusive European car show was a hit in 2022
Like most events worldwide, the 2020 Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance was cancelled due to the pandemic. But BMW managed to reboot the car show last year, and it went off again in May without a hitch.
In all, 10 awards were won, three of which came in the form of the event’s trophies. The new concept award went to Bugatti’s Bolide and a 1936 Cord 812 Phaeton won “most sensitive restoration”. A
Bugatti
also walked away with the “Best In Show” award with a 1937 57 S.These three may have been chosen as the cream of the crop, but they weren’t the only vehicles holding spectators’ attention over the weekend.
Other ribbon-winning cars included a 1989 Porsche 959 Sport, a 1966 Ferrari 356 P Berlinetta Speciale Tre Posti, and one
American-made
machine, a 1956 Chrysler Boano Coupe Speciale.Owning a classic car worthy of Concours d’Elegance
With only 50 places to fill, not every restored car is worthy to be put on display Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance, but you don’t have to live in Europe to enter an event like this. Of the 43 similarly named events held around the world, 27 take place in the U.S.
The most famous of these takes place annually in Pebble Beach, California. But getting your car accepted into the event is no small feat.
The event has a slightly wider field than its Italian counterpart, with up to eight cars being accepted into more than 30 classes. But as the most prestigious car show in the world, owners can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and many years to get their cars approved.
The cost of owning a rare vehicle worthy of Pebble Beach or Villa d’Este extends farther than the car auction or restoration shop. You’ll also need solid collectors or
classic car coverage
. Jerry
, a licensed broker, offers end-to-end support, gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and can even help you cancel your old policy. 
4.7
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