Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2004

About the Event

Three anniversaries were celebrated at Concorso d´Eleganza Villa d’Este 2004 recently. It was the 75th anniversary of the event itself, BMW were also celebrating their 75th, and Rolls-Royce of course their centenary. 

With a total of fifty-two historical, and ten modern (concept), cars in the competition it was a record event. In the park on Saturday the jury met to decide who was to be awarded the main prizes. On the Sunday the event was open to the public and its success could be measured not only by the long queues forming around the cars but also in the unprecedented interest from the media. 

The main prize from the jury, for the most beautiful car in the show, went to Ferrari this year, American collector Peter Kalikow’s 1957 250 GT Cabriolet Pininfarina. 

The public’s prize, the ‘Coppa d'Oro di Villa’, was presented to the owner of a 1933 Lancia Astura Double-Phaeton with a body by Castagna - amazingly a winner of the same event in 1933. 

In honour of the recently deceased jury-president Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni, a special prize was awarded to a 1951 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 GT 'Coupé Villa d’Este Helvetia , Touring', for its most elegant styling. 

Every year a designer is chosen to be spotlighted at the meeting. This year Milanese coachbuilder Zagato was honoured, and in a special display the company presented its work over the last 85 years. The ‘Trofeo Zagato’ was awarded to a 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 SSZ Coupé.

For three years now there has been a special prize for the best modern concept vehicles. The ‘Concorso d´Eleganza Villa d’Este Design Award’ went to the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione which debuted at 2003’s Frankfurt Show. On Sunday this vehicle also received the ‘Trofeo BMW Italia Design Award’.

To celebrate the 100th birthday of Rolls-Royce, dealer Hammer-Gruppe Köln presented the 100EX design exercise to a group of their customers. Sales manager Michael Gleissner had accompanied his guests to the Concorso d´Eleganza.

An amazing event with the three anniversaries being celebrated. The standard of the cars this year is the best I have seen so far. - Lord March, member of the jury and organiser of the two Goodwood events.

Most liked pictures of the event