The fifth edition of the Ferrari-specific Cavallino Classic Modena (May 12-14, 2025) was a powerful and elegant statement of style and luxury. It all kicked off on Friday evening with pizza and Champagne in the gardens of Casa Maria Luigia. Owned by superchef Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore, the estate incorporates a luxurious guest house that offers three-Michelin-starred dining – not your usual pizza then. Massimo and Lara, co-authors of Slow Food, Fast Cars, have created a venue of unrushed opulence and authenticity that perfectly complements the distinctive character of the event.
Joining early Saturday morning, we were immediately captivated by the Cavallino Classic Modena’s emotively staged entrance. There can’t be many more visually powerful ways to greet guests, honour heritage and convey unashamed luxury than to position the 2023 Le Mans-winning Ferrari 499P, Niki Lauda’s 1976 312 T2 Formula 1 car and a Riva Aquarama Super in the front courtyard of a beautiful 18th century Italian villa.
Off to the right of the Riva Classiche-restored Aquarama sat three Challenge cars, a 430 and two 458s that though menacing in presence were somehow upstaged by a 1989 Iveco TurboDaily 35-10 Ferrari Challenge Support van. And that’s just what was out front. Around the back of the main house, arranged on the garden’s expansive turf, was a carefully curated collection of Ferrari heritage.
First up were two very special V12s in the beguiling shapes of a 330 GTO (the 14th 250 GTO built) and a 330 LMB (the only Classiche-certified example of the three produced). These sat alongside a stunning set of 250s that included a 1954 Ferrari 250 Monza, a 1960 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet and a 1953 250 MM Spyder Vignale originally ordered by Harry Schell and Marquis de Portago for the 1954 Buenos Aires 1000km race.
When fired up for the Cavallino Classic Modena judges, that 250 MM Spyder Vignale sounded thunderously throaty when revved. Even at idle, the exhaust note drowned out the car’s horn. Hearing a competition-tuned engine turning in anger never gets old. With judges’ checks all ticked and the flow of fuel shut off, soft chatter accompanied by Big Band Swing returned to restore the general civility. With never more than 120 people meandering through the 37 competing cars, an intimate and relaxed atmosphere was assured.
The competition this year comprised classes labelled as 250, 275, Twelve-Cylinder, Dino, Supercar and V8 Racing, along with special anniversary categories for the 308 and F50. No fewer than five 275s – all immaculate and all the embodiment of passionate custodians such as Tom Hartley Jnr, Horacio Pagani and others – were lined up down the left-side hedge.
Five 308s, several Dinos, a Daytona, a 599 GTO and a 550 Maranello Barchetta were all well ogled, but it was the 288 GTO, two F50s and three F40s that had me transfixed. Every time I see these legends, I spot another reason to love them even more. Or is it just because I was a teenager in the 1980s? This time it was spotting just how far forward the engine block sits in the F40 – virtually in between the seats.
After a light, Massimo Bottura lunch in the garden, most of the participating cars set off in convoy to the Museo Enzo Ferrari in the heart of Modena. Parking these classic Ferraris right outside the window of Enzo’s childhood home, an area freely accessible to the public, is “how we choose to include the community in this otherwise extremely exclusive event,” said Luigi Orlandini, chairman and CEO Cavallino Inc.
Entrant Horacio Pagani simply cannot travel incognito in these parts. He graciously posed for group selfies with respectful fans in front of the museum.
Once the cars had been safely returned to the grassed expanses of Casa Maria Luigia, aperitivos were served in anticipation of the Cavallino Classic Modena awards ceremony. Twenty-six Pininfarina-designed Platinum awards were handed out for cars that had scored 97 or higher – the sheer number was a great indication of the quality of entries across the board. Notable class winners included the Tom Hartley Jnr-entered 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB4, which won the 275 class; Shunji Hasumi’s 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB ‘vetroresina’ (glassfibre) – winner of the 308 Anniversary class; and the 1997 Ferrari F50 owned by the Piero Ferrari Trust, which won the F50 Anniversary class.
Seven special awards were also announced. These included the Ferrari Restoration Award, which was won by the 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Vignale owned by Michael Weisberg; an absolutely gorgeous car that was also the recipient of the Cavallino Magazine Award. Orlandini’s Chairman’s Award went to the 1962 Ferrari 330 GTO entered by The Dick Wolf Collection.
We had to wait until after dinner for the three Cavallino Classic Modena Best of Show awards, but that was no hardship as the expertly matched wines and cuisine served up by the three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana was a culinary delight of the highest order.
With guests, including Ferrari vice chairman Piero Ferrari and Enzo Mattioli Ferrari, ready to party, Orlandini took to the stage once more to announce Giuseppe Prevosti’s 1954 Ferrari 250 Monza as winner of Best of Show Competition. Unsurprisingly, this spectacular endurance-racing machine – a fifth-place finisher at the 1954 Carrera Panamericana – captured the People’s Choice award, too.
Best of Show Gran Turismo was a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet in Abete Metallizzato over beige presented by Bacchelli e Villa, while the 1966 triple-carb, ‘long nose’ 275 GTB4 Paris Motor Show car won Best of Show Ferrari Classiche.
With that the DJ began his set, and Luigi’s impressive dance skills put a joyous celebratory cap on a magnificent event. “We invested a lot into the first three years, to set the foundations of this event. The fourth year it took off, but now it’s ready to rocket,” was a buoyant Orlandini’s private assessment of the event. In a post online, prolific collector car dealer Tom Hartley Jnr wrote: “This event has a lot of legs; it wouldn’t take much more for it to be the premier event of Europe. I’ll certainly be back next year.”
Stylish and elegant, the 2025 edition of the Cavallino Classic Modena was a highly exclusive gathering of like-minded Ferrari owners, a majestic celebration of Prancing Horse heritage.
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FULL RESULTS
Best of Show Competition
1954 Ferrari 250 Monza (Giuseppe Prevosti)
Also won People’s Choice Award
Best of Show Gran Turismo
1960 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet (Bacchelli e Villa)
Best of Show Ferrari Classiche
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB4 (Private Collector)
CLASS WINNERS
250: 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Spyder Vignale (Private Collector)
275: 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB4 (Tom Hartley Jnr)
Twelve-Cylinder: 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB (Private Collector)
Dino: 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS (Alberto Gatto)
308 Anniversary: 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB “Vetroresina” (Shunji Hasumi)
F50 Anniversary: 1997 Ferrari F50 (Piero Ferrari Trust)
Supercar: 1992 Ferrari F40 (Patrick Van Glabeke)
V8 Racing: 2013 Ferrari 458 GTE (Allan McDonnel)
SPECIAL AWARDS
The Ferrari Vintage Preservation Award: 1989 Ferrari F40 (Glenn Janssens)
The Ferrari Restoration Award: 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Vignale (Michael Weisberg)
Cavallino Magazine Award: 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Vignale (Michael Weisberg)
Best Ferrari Sound Award: 2009 Ferrari F430 GTC (Private Collector)
The Spirit of Sally Award: 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB4 ‘Daytona’ (Edoardo Schon)
Chairman’s Award: 1962 Ferrari 330 GTO (The Dick Wolf Collection)
