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Events29 May 2024 by Andreas 301 Viewed

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2024: All Winners

Cernobbio, Italy – The stunning backdrop of Villa d’Este hosted another extraordinary edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, where historic cars and concept vehicles enchanted the audience and judges alike. This year, the “Best of Show” title was awarded to a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 bodied by Figoni, while the public bestowed the “Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este” upon a 1995 McLaren F1.

Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Figoni 1932 - Best of Show

Trofeo BMW Group – “Best of Show by the Jury”

Máté Boér Photography

The 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, owned by the Belgian HM Collection, won the judges’ hearts with its timeless elegance and captivating history. Bodied by Figoni, this two-seater spider is one of ten built on a short-wheelbase chassis, featuring an 8-cylinder, 2.3-liter engine producing at least 142 HP. Today, this masterpiece is valued at over 3 million euros.

McLaren F1 1995 - Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este

Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este – “Best of Show by Public Referendum”

Máté Boér Photography

The audience at Villa Erba crowned the 1995 McLaren F1, brought to the event by British owner Tony Vassilopoulos, with the “Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este”. This hypercar, capable of reaching 384 km/h, remains the fastest naturally aspirated road car in history. The winning model, ordered in a two-tone gray by Motokatzu Sayama, is valued at around 20 million euros.

Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2024: All the Winners

Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award For Concept Cars & Prototypes by Public Referendum

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, 2022
Owner: Stellantis Europe S.p.A.

CLASS A – The Dawn of the Performance Age

Class Winner: Bentley 4 ½ Litre Blower, Two Seater Drophead Coupé, Gurney Nutting, 1930 (The Lee Collection, United States)

Mention of Honour: Bentley 3 Litre, Open Tourer, Van den Plas, 1927 (Michael Dacre, United Kingdom)

CLASS B – Shaped by the Wind: The Evolution of Aerodynamics

Class Winner: Cadillac V16, Coupé, Fleetwood, 1934 (Donald Ghareeb, United States)

Mention of Honour: Delahaye 135 M, Cabriolet, Faget & Varnet, 1948 (Teresa & David Disiere, United States)

CLASS C – “The Best Car in the World” for 120 Years: Rolls-Royce Celebrates an Historic Birthday

Class Winner: Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Phantom II Continental, Fixed Head Coupé, Freestone & Webb, 1933 (Lord Bamford, United Kingdom)

Mention of Honour: Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, Torpedo Grand Luxe, Van den Plas, 1914 (Terence George Bramall, United Kingdom)

CLASS D – “Faster!”: The Arms Race on the Road

Máté Boér Photography

Class Winner: Ferrari 335 S, Spider, Scaglietti, 1957 (Brian Ross, United States)

Mention of Honour: Ferrari 250 GT SWB, Berlinetta, Scaglietti, 1960 (Bernard Lezaire, Netherlands)

CLASS E – The Best of Italian Grace and Pace: Maserati at 110

Class Winner: Maserati A6G/54, Berlinetta, Zagato, 1956 (Roberto Quiroz, Mexico)

Mention of Honour: Maserati 3500 Spider Vignale Prototipo, Spider, Vignale, 1959 (Phil White, United States)

CLASS F – Gentleman Drivers: Style for the Fortunate Few

Class Winner: Ferrari 275 GTS, Spider, Pininfarina, 1966 (Christopher Stahl, Germany)

Mention of Honour: Mercedes-Benz 300 SC, Coupé, Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen, 1955 (Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani, Qatar)

CLASS G – Time Capsules: Cars that the Outside World Forgot

Class Winner: Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, Spider, Figoni, 1932 (Private Collection, Belgium)

Mention of Honour: Bugatti Type 35C, Grand Prix, Bugatti, 1928 (Auriga Collection, Germany)

CLASS H – The Need for Speed: Supercar Stars of the Video Generation

Class Winner: McLaren F1, Coupé, McLaren, 1995 (Tony Vassilopoulos, United Kingdom)

Mention of Honour: Lamborghini Diablo GT, Coupé, 1999 (Jose Cobian, Mexico)

Máté Boér Photography

Additional Trophies Awarded

  • Presidents’ Trophy: Ferrari 335 S, Spider, Scaglietti, 1957 (Brian Ross, United States)
  • BMW Group Classic Trophy: Bentley 3 Litre, Open Tourer, Van den Plas, 1927 (Michael Dacre, United Kingdom)
  • Rolls-Royce Trophy: Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, Torpedo Grand Luxe, Van den Plas, 1914 (Terence George Bramall, United Kingdom)
  • Vranken-Pommery Trophy: Bugatti Type 35C, Grand Prix, Bugatti, 1928 (Auriga Collection, Germany)
  • ASI Trophy: Fiat Dino Aerodinamica Berlinetta, Pininfarina, 1967 (Lee Hower, United States)
  • Auto & Design Trophy: Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, Coupé, Touring Superleggera, 1960 (Andreas Halvorsen, United States)
  • Il Canto del Motore Trophy: Lamborghini Countach LP400, Coupé, Bertone, 1976 (Christine Schams, United Kingdom)
  • Automobile Club Como Trophy: Ruf CTR “Yellowbird”, Coupé, Porsche, 1987 (Alois Ruf, Germany)
  • Poltrona Frau Trophy: Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport – Prototype, Cabriolet, Graber, 1953 (Kaspar Fleischmann, Switzerland)

The 2024 edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este once again confirmed the timeless excellence and beauty of vintage cars, alongside the innovation and cutting-edge design of the latest concepts, creating an unforgettable event for all car enthusiasts.

the author

Andreas

Italian classic car enthusiast with German roots. Renowned as a respected figure in the classic car community, he serves as a jury member at various international concours d'elegance, including the Classic Gala Schwetzingen and Mantova. As a content creator, Andreas passionately shares his profound knowledge and appreciation for vintage automobiles. His heart beats for cars designed by Giovanni Michelotti, showcasing his discerning taste and dedication to preserving the timeless elegance of automotive history.

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Lets step back in time to the year 1947, a momentous period marked by the end of a war that left both material and moral devastation in its wake. The echoes of those challenging years are etched in the memories of those fortunate enough to have lived through them. The Mille Miglia revives, symbolizing the resilient spirit of a society yearning for recovery.

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Photo courtesy of Auto Storica

The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer (BB), produced from 1973 to 1984, stands as one of Ferrari’s most radical shifts in design and engineering, thanks to the collaborative work with Pininfarina. The BB was Ferrari’s first mid-engine road car, marking a significant departure from Enzo Ferrari’s long-standing preference for front-engine designs. Its introduction signified a new chapter for Ferrari, aligning more closely with the trends set by other supercar manufacturers at the time.

Origins and Design Inspiration

Designed under the direction of Leonardo Fioravanti, the Ferrari 365 GT4 BB (the first iteration of the BB series) debuted at the 1971 Turin Auto Show, and production began in 1973. One fascinating anecdote about the car is that its “BB” initials reportedly stood for Brigitte Bardot, the famous French actress, which was a codename used during development and remained with the model​.

The BB’s design was sleek and revolutionary. It featured a wedge-shaped, low-profile body, which became a staple of 1970s supercar aesthetics. One of its unique design elements was the bicolored bodywork, with a black lower section that visually slimmed the car while emphasizing its elongated shape. Its pop-up headlights and minimalist, flowing lines were indicative of Pininfarina’s ability to combine functionality with elegance, helping the car stand out from its competitors​.

Mid-Engine Innovation

Before the BB series, Ferrari had always adhered to front-engine layouts for its road cars, famously stating, “Never put the cart before the horse.” However, the mid-engine layout, which Ferrari had already used in its Dino models, became necessary as rivals like Lamborghini began popularizing the mid-engine format in supercars.

The 512 BB (introduced in 1976) featured a 5.0-liter flat-12 engine, mounted in the middle of the car, right behind the driver, delivering 360 horsepower. While this engine was commonly referred to as a “Boxer,” it was technically a 180-degree V12, not a true Boxer engine. In a true Boxer engine, opposing pistons move in opposite directions, but in the 512 BB, they moved simultaneously in the same direction​ This flat configuration allowed for a lower center of gravity, which significantly improved the car’s handling.

Performance and Engineering Marvels

The 512 BB was more than just a stylish car—it was a high-performance machine capable of a top speed of 302 km/h (187 mph) and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds. The car’s engineering wasn’t just limited to its engine. It featured independent suspension on all four wheels and a sophisticated five-speed manual transmission mounted below the engine, showcasing Ferrari’s commitment to performance.

Over the years, the BB saw several iterations. The BB 512i, introduced in the early 1980s, swapped the carburetors for Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, which lowered emissions and improved fuel efficiency without sacrificing too much power. Although the power dropped slightly to 340 hp, it remained one of the fastest road cars of its era​.

Legacy and Influence

The BB series laid the groundwork for Ferrari’s later mid-engine supercars, such as the Ferrari Testarossa, which succeeded the BB 512i in 1984. It also marked a significant shift for Ferrari, transitioning from the era of front-engine grand tourers to mid-engine supercars.

Today, the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer remains a prized collector’s item. Its combination of cutting-edge design by Pininfarina, revolutionary mid-engine layout, and Ferrari’s racing heritage makes it one of the most iconic cars in the brand’s history. With only 387 units produced of the original 365 GT4 BB, and slightly more of the later 512 BB and BB 512i models, its rarity further solidifies its place in the pantheon of classic supercars.

The Ferrari BB, both for its groundbreaking design and engineering, represents one of Ferrari’s most influential models. Its innovations in the mid-engine supercar market, coupled with Pininfarina’s masterful styling, continue to captivate enthusiasts and collectors to this day.

Which Ferrari model is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

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