MANTUA. The whims of the weather did not dampen the enthusiasm and emotions of the 8th Concorso d’Eleganza Città di Mantova held on Sunday in the charming setting of Villa Schiarino – Lena in Porto Mantovano. Organized with the usual professionalism of the Club 8 Volanti “Tazio Nuvolari” officials, the event received widespread praise, success, and appreciation from both participants and numerous visitors who attended throughout the day.
The contest showcased a selection of 22 highly prestigious historic cars, each one a testament to automotive beauty and historical significance. Before the evaluation phase of the competition, an engaging conference took place from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, featuring Edgardo Michelotti, son of the renowned designer Giovanni Michelotti. Giovanni Michelotti, one of the greatest figures in automotive history, passed away prematurely in 1981 after designing over 1200 cars, many of which were common sights on roads during his era.
During the competition phase, the jury was chaired by Pietro Camardella, a distinguished designer who, during his tenure at Pininfarina, designed several iconic Ferraris, including the Ferrari F40, the 456, and the Mythos prototype, which had its worldwide debut at Palazzo Te in Mantua.
The judging committee members, in addition to Camardella, included Andreas Scheidl (carrozzieri-italiani.com) for style, Andrea and Stefano Maieli, renowned artisans from Mantua, for interiors, body shop and classic cars restorers Marco Mondini and Alessandro Scartapatti, also from Mantua, for exteriors, Fabio Tittarelli from Aci Storico, and Aga Rossi for mechanics. These experts conducted their inspections and evaluations with utmost professionalism and seriousness, meticulously examining each car’s style, bodywork, interiors, and mechanics.
The participating cars ranged in age from the 1920s to the late 1990s, displaying incredible beauty and elegance. Highlights included two OM Superba 665s, a Fiat 514 MM (one of only seven produced by the Turin company), two special Fiat Balillas (by Carrozzeria Viotti and Fiat-Simca), and a magnificent 1947 Lancia Aprilia Cabrio Pinin Farina, which was later crowned queen of the contest. Other notable cars included the Fiat 1400, the last car owned by the legendary Tazio Nuvolari, an MG TD bodied by Vignale and designed by Michelotti (a unique specimen in the world), and a Gaz Volga M21, a Soviet car unique in Italy in civilian livery. The event also featured stunning cars from the 1960s and 1970s, such as Mercedes, MG, Bentley, and Jaguar. Among them was a Maserati Quattroporte Frua in a fantastic metallic color that changed with the day’s brightness, and the iconic black Jaguar E-Type of Diabolik, known for its sleek wedge shape.
From the group of class winners, the Gaz Volga M21, dramatically rediscovered in Kharkiv, and the Best of Show, the 1947 Lancia Aprilia Cabrio Pininfarina with its princely mechanics and lines, emerged as special awards from the Jury and Aci Mantova (see here all winners). In the mid-afternoon, prompted by bad weather, the event organizers, with the assistance of Giuseppe Pottocar, director of Aci Mantova, provided each participant with a personalized commemorative cup and awarded the most coveted prizes. After the final applause, everyone hurried away to escape the rain that, unfortunately, accompanied many participants to their destinations.
Despite the weather’s caprices, the 8th Concorso d’Eleganza Città di Mantova proved to be a resounding success, celebrating the timeless beauty and historical significance of these magnificent automobiles.
