Oldi meeting: Concorso d’Eleganza – the largest vintage car parade in the world

This was not only due to the spectacular winning car of the Coppa d’Oro, the grandiose Aston Martin Bulldog, a sports car that could only be created in the late 1970s. Design, proportions, V8 engine and the gigantic doors – this Bulldog is one of the most unusual cars of modern times and even without colorful paint a true bird of paradise. Hardly less worth seeing is the Mercedes 300 SL Roadster from collector Erich Oswald. A Mercedes 300 SL is not a rarity in the turbulent classic scene, either as a coupe or as a gullwing, and yet this 1960 model year is something very special. Admittedly, the unusual light yellow paintwork is a matter of taste and was only applied to a handful of individual pieces. In the meantime, however, the 300 SL was painted over white and the current owner did not simply have the Mercedes Roadster restored, but instead had the white top coat removed so that the old yellow paintwork was barely visible again. Even the winning car Best of Show, a 1937 Bugatti 57S, couldn’t keep up.

Those who weren’t impressed enough by these three beauties dreamed of vehicle classes such as art deco, supercharged Mercedes models, cars for a grand entrance or models with the racing car slogan “win on Sunday, sell on Monday”. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of BMW M GmbH, a separate M category should not be missing. Three of the current stars came from BMW and the even more noble subsidiary Rolls-Royce. At the Concorso, BMW unveiled the new top model from the Garching motorsport offshoot, the M4 CSL, alongside the new i7 luxury sedan. The powerful visual appearance is at least as impressive as the supercharged six-cylinder with 550 hp, which enables a top speed of 307 km/h. Even more exclusive is the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail II, a one-off luxury convertible that seems to have sprung from the kingdom of 1,001 nights.

Guests compete with the cars

Hardly less than worth seeing than the vehicles are the approximately 1,600 guests who absorb the charm of the treasures, atmosphere, mood and surroundings and are an indispensable part of this seemingly perfect automobile painting, which can only be seen in the Villa d’Este grounds can be set, which is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. Designed in the 16th century as a private residence for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio and transformed into one of the finest hotels in the world in 1873, the Villa d’Este is unique not only in northern Italy and the already atmospheric Lake Como. It’s impossible not to be drawn into the understated glamor and history of Villa d’Este, as the Grande Dame has hosted some of the biggest names in cinema, art, literature, politics and business over the past 150 seasons. However, one of the highlights of the season remains the Concorso d’Eleganza – always held in May.

universe of the rich and beautiful

Here a champagne, there a few appetizers and of course you protect yourself from the sun with a stylish hat and parasol. Anyone who has immersed themselves in this paradisiacal classical world on Lake Como will probably never want to leave this parallel universe again. Anyone who has been there always wants to go back: be amazed, chat, impress, shine and dream – everyone does that on the three event days – everyone in their own way. Now it’s time to be brave: the next event will only take place in one year instead. It’s a good thing that the big brother, the Monterey Autoweek, with its numerous events in and around the luxury enclave in Pebble Beach, California, shortens the time a bit in the third week of August. But nowhere else can you dream of the most beautiful cars in the world as beautifully as at the Concorso d’Eleganza at the Villa d’Este – not even in Pebble Beach.