Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 saw a ‘home’ victory for Alfa Romeo, a much-storied Scuderia Ferrari-run P3 Monoposto entered by Germany’s Auriga Collection. Held over the weekend of May 23-25 in Cernobbio on the shores of Italy’s Lake Como, Villa d’Este was blessed with scorching weather and a similarly hot selection of cars.
Following judging and a drinks reception on the Friday, the palatial grounds of the Villa d’Este hotel were packed. Attendance seemed to be on a par with last year’s event, with a wide variety of entrants from across the world. BMW took the opportunity to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the BMW 507, while Rolls-Royce celebrated the centenary of the first Phantom by showcasing the Phantom Goldfinger, a one-off inspired by 1964’s Goldfinger James Bond film (pictured below).
Even if Villa d’Este itself was off limits for those without a ticket, nearby Villa Erba played host to a BMW-hosted cars and coffee event called Wheels and Weisswürscht, which celebrated all facets of motoring enthusiasm, with 1950s and ’60s British sports cars parked next to heavily modified German and Japanese modern classics. There was also FuoriConcorso just 20 minutes’ walk away; you can read more about that here.
On Sunday, an early start to Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este saw the cars make their way from the event’s underground car park lair through the narrow streets of Cernobbio to Villa Erba, where for €35 those who missed out on the Saturday show could see the cars up close. The event coincided with Broad Arrow’s broadly successful inaugural Villa d’Este sale, held in Villa Erba’s rotunda. You can read our report on that here.
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 also saw debuts for several new BMWs, which we’ll come on to later – but first, let’s look at the winners from three glorious days on the shores of Lake Como.
Trofeo BMW Group
Best in Show at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 went to this 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B (P3) Monoposto da Gran Premio, hailing from the Auriga Collection. Run under the Scuderia Ferrari banner during the 1934, it was taken to victory by Achille Varzi at the Nice and Tripoli Grands Prix, while Guy Moll won the Berlin Avus Grand Prix. Varzi also took second places at the French and Belgian Grands Prix, Louis Chiron took second in Monaco and third in Germany, and Antonio Brivio secured third place at the Coppa Acerbo. It also won its class – Sculpture in Motion: The Decade of the Automotive Arms Race, 1928-1938.
Trofeo Coppa d´Oro Villa d´Este
The public’s vote for Best of Show at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 went to Dirk de Groen’s 1957 BMW 507 Roadster. One of 45 first-series models, it was optioned with Rudge wheels, a Becker Brescia radio and automatic antenna, and it was first delivered to Rome in July 1957. The BMW also won Trofeo Vranken-Pommery (Best Iconic Car).
Trofeo BMW Group Ragazzi
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 saw the youth vote, as well as the Frozen in Time: Preservation Time Capsules from 1900-1973 class, won by Tony Owen’s 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC. Originally sold via William F Harrah’s Modern Classic Motors, it was specified in the uncommon shade of Nocciola Metallizzato. Its first owner, Harvey S Mudd II from Los Angeles, specified wire wheels as an option. It was later owned by Robert Hicks of Manhattan Beach on the advice of his friend, Phil Hill of Formula 1 and Ferrari Works driver fame. It has since graced many Ferrari collections, and is currently a resident of Southern California.
Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award For Concept Cars and Prototypes by Public Referendum
The winning concept car at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 was the 2025 Alfa Romeo 8C DoppiaCoda Zagato, designed by Norihiko Harada. Based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, it is designed to bring together two of Zagato’s key design codes – the Kamm tail (Coda Tronca) and the rounded tail – in one design.
Trofeo dei Presidenti dei Concorsi Internazionali
This award is chosen by the presidents of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and Oberoi Concours d’Elegance. This year, Ralph Lauren’s 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 MM Spider Corsa by Touring was victorious. This car, chassis 412030, was driven by Carlo Pintacuda as part of a four-car assault on 1938’s Mille Miglia. After leading the field for much of the race, a braking problem hit Pintacuda just after the last checkpoint. Despite 30 minutes spent ruing his luck in the pits, he still stormed to second place, just two minutes behind team-mate Clemente Biondetti.
The 8C 2900 MM was later bought by radio and communications heir Tommy Lee; it was later acquired by future F1 champion Phil Hill. He took victories at the Pebble Beach Road Races and Del Monte Cup in 1951 against newer opponents. It’s been in the Ralph Lauren Collection since 2004, and has been fully restored to Mille Miglia specification by Paul Russell.
Trofeo del Presidente della Giuria
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 President of the Jury Award, chosen by Lorenzo Ramaciotti, went to the Nationales Automuseum of Germany’s 1930 Bentley Speed Six Weymann Sportsman Coupé by Gurney Nutting. First owned by Commander Glen Kidston, it was specified with a unique quick-release filler neck for the petrol tank for his assault on the Monte Carlo Rally. However, it’s believed that Kidston crashed the car on its first outing – along London’s Edgware Road. Bentley records show that it needed a new front axle. When the Commander did eventually take the car on the John O’Groats to Monte Carlo Challenge, he ended up crashing into a brick wall near Inverness.
Trofeo BMW Group Classic
This 1939 Lagonda V12 DHC Rapide owned by Nishant Dossa won the award for most sensitive restoration at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025. One of 17 built, it is among the ten to feature bodywork that extended rearwards on the short chassis. It was first delivered to Washington DC for James H Kimberly, the heir to the Kleenex empire. It would move to California in the 1950s and remained there until 2019, when the current owner acquired it and subsequently had it restored with the aim of keeping as much of the original car as possible.
Trofeo ASI (Best Preserved Post-War Car)
Villa d’Este 2025’s Best-Preserved Post-War Car Award went to Tom McGough’s 1965 Serenissima 308V Torpedo by Fantuzzi. Designed by ex-Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa Romeo engineer Alberto Massimino, this prototype racing car was built in only two units, and this is the only one to survive. After being shown at the 1965 Turin Motor Show it was entered into the following year’s Le Mans 24 Hours in much-modified form. After five hours the race was over due to gearbox failure, and it would be hidden in Serenissima founder Count Volpi’s Venetian castle. It was sold to the current owner in 2020, and it remains in original condition and has been refurbished to working order.
Trofeo Auto and Design
The Most Exciting Design Award at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 went to the 1967 OSI Silver Fox Prototype Catamaran, owned by Paul-Emile Bessade. Originally the idea of racing driver Piero Taruffi – owner of grey hair and a cunning driving style, which is how the car got its name – the catamaran design was intended to improve downforce and stability at high speeds. The front wing could be adjusted by hand when the car wasn’t moving, but the large central wing could be adjusted while driving. A third fixed wing was fitted at the rear.
It was all conceived to allow the car to be adapted to various driving styles, and was intended to be powered by a 1.0-litre Renault Alpine four-cylinder engine. Thanks to the low weight and wind-cheating aerodynamics it could hit 105mph, and it was planned to compete in Group B6 racing and break records. OSI went bust before that could happen, and the car didn’t even receive the intended motor. A collector later acquired the rolling prototype and spent ten years using original OSI drawings to finally finish the car – including the working adjustable aerodynamics.
Trofeo il Canto del Motore
The award for the Best Engine Sound at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 went to this 1956 Aston Martin DB3S, hailing from a private collection. One of 11 Works racing cars, Chassis 9 is one of just two with shrouded headlamps designed to give the car the aerodynamic edge at the 1956 Le Mans 24 Hours. Drivers Stirling Moss and Peter Collins battled the Ėcurie Écosse Jaguar D-type driven by Ninian Sanderson and Ron Flockhart throughout the race, the result of which was only decided in the final minutes. The Aston’s second gear failed, which meant Moss and Collins had to settle for second, having spent only 7.39 minutes in the pits all race.
The car would see success elsewhere in 1956 – Roy Salvadori took a win at Oulton Park and a second at Goodwood – while Tony Brooks finished third at Goodwood a year later. It was overhauled by the factory and continued to be raced in Australia until the early 1960s. It returned home to the UK in 1990 and was then restored.
Trofeo Automobile Club Como
This award celebrates the car driven from farthest away to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025, and was won by this 1927 Rolls-Royce 20HP Saloon by HJ Mulliner. Owner Axel Schröter had made the trip to Lake Como from Monaco. Its first owner was Spencer Ashworth, who wanted a Weymann body, but his selling dealer (and itself a coachbuilder) Cockshoot & Sons didn’t hold the licence for the design. It was sent to HJ Mulliner, who did. It was later owned by one Wyndham Rees, who used the car daily for much of his 55-year stewardship. It’s been in the hands of its current owner since 2019.
Trofeo dei Schedoni
The Best-Preserved Leather Award at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 went to this 1963 Jaguar E-type Lightweight, owned by Richard Cook. It was the first Lightweight delivered to UK ownership, and its first custodian was Tommy Atkins. Roy Salvadori raced it in 1963, taking third place in the Goodwood Tourist Trophy and second at Silverstone. In 1964 the car was sold to Roger Mac, who took 15 wins and several podium places. Guy Griffths acquired the E-type in 1966, and gave it to his daughter as a present – one she’d keep for the next 37 years.
Class Awards
Glorious Excess: The Evolution of the ‘Money No Object’ Motor Car, 1920-1940
This 1933 Duesenberg SJ Sweep Panel Dual-Cowl Phaeton owned by Thomas Maoli, is one of only three cars built by LaGrande as a Dual-Cowl Phaeton with elongated side panels on the 3.89m wheelbase chassis. It spent many years in Mexico; its American owner was interested in financing a race track there and drove it down. Once he got to Mexico City, the American decided not to invest – and he asked his business partner to purchase his share, which would include this Duesenberg.
Renaissance: The Post-War European Sports Car Comes of Age
Michael Weisberg’s 1951 Ferrari 212 Export is one of 27 Export competition chassis cars built, one of 13 bodied by Vignale and one of two cabriolets. It features notable unique features in the grille, and was first delivered to Count Sanseverino in Naples. It made its way to the United Kingdom in 1961, and would spend the next 40 years there under the care of David Clarke. It was restored back to period-correct Carminio Red in 2013.
Titans of the Track: When the Boss Says “Let’s race!”
Giuseppe Prevosti’s 1954 Ferrari 250 Monza is one of just four built, and the only one bodied by Scaglietti. Chassis 0442M was the third Monza built, destined for Franco Cornacchia from Scuderia Guastalla. Cornacchia and Gerino Gerini took the car to several podiums that year, notching up victory on the Trofeo Sardo. It also finished fifth overall and third in class on that year’s Carrera Panamericana.
It was later acquired by the Mercedes-Benz dealer and importer in Guatemala, Manfredo Lippmann. He planned to enter the car in the Sebring 12 Hours in 1955, but a mechanic damaged it just before the race meaning it couldn’t compete. Lippmann would eventually get to compete with the car, taking several podiums and a victory in the El Salvador Grand Prix, before its competition career came to an end in 1958.
Go Big or Go Home
This Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 class was subtitled in an exuberant way to match the cars on show – Automotive Excess of the ’80s to the New Millennium, When Nothing Seemed Too Fast, Expensive or Bold – and the winning 1993 Bugatti EB 110 GT of Maurizio De Angelis certainly lived up to the billing. It’s one of six finished in Verde Scuro Metallizzato, and was first delivered to a German customer who had a thirst for all things fast – he also owned a McLaren F1.
Vanishing Act: Gone But Proudly Not Forgotten
This 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport was bodied by Saoutchik to star at the Paris Salon in 1948, in this colour combination of Mint Green with brown accents. Among five Grand Sport models created by the coachbuilder, it’s one of just two with a low-slung roof profile, and it was first ordered by a Mr Bogey. It entered several European concours in period, and it has been restored to its original colour combination having changed hues several times over its lifetime. It is now owned by Robert Kudela.
Style Matters: Opulence Meets Elegance Before Times Change Forever
This 1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica, which belongs to Sam Lombardo, is the 12 Series III model and the 26th built out of all 36 Superamerica models. Its first owner, JA Stallings of Phoenix, Arizona, took the car to the Bonneville Salt Flats to record a top speed of 152mph. Chassis 1285 SA is also notable for being factory-equipped with covered headlamps.
BMW also used Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 to announce three launches. This year’s new concept was the Speedtop (top left and right, above). Described as an exclusive three-door interpretation of a BMW Touring, it’s powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8. Finished in unique Floating Sunstone Maroon, this is no flight of fancy. Last year’s concept, the Skytop, will be produced in 50 units, and 70 Speedtops are due to be built to order at Dingolfing.
The event also saw the public launch of the 523bhp BMW M2 CS (bottom right) – you can read more about that on Octane‘s site here. Finally, Villa d’Este 2025 also saw the launch of the BMW Motorrad Concept RR (bottom left) – an insight into future RR-line superbikes.
For more information on Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025, please head here.
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 results
Trofeo BMW Group (Best of Show): 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B (P3) Monoposto da Gran Premio (Auriga Collection). Also won Sculpture in Motion: The Decade of the Automotive Arms Race, 1928-1938
Special Awards
Trofeo Coppa d´Oro Villa d´Este (Best of Show by Public Referendum): 1957 BMW 507 Roadster (Dirk de Groen). Also won Trofeo Vranken-Pommery (Best Iconic Car)
Trofeo BMW Group Ragazzi (Young People’s Referendum): 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC (Tony Owen). Also won Frozen in Time: Preservation Time Capsules from 1900-1973
Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award For Concept Cars and Prototypes by Public Referendum: 2025 Alfa Romeo 8C DoppiaCoda Zagato (designed by Norihiko Harada)
Trofeo dei Presidenti dei Concorsi Internazionali (by presidents of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and Oberoi Concours d’Elegance): 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 MM Spider Corsa by Touring (Ralph Lauren)
Trofeo del Presidente della Giuria (President of the Jury Award): 1930 Bentley Speed Six Weymann Sportsman Coupé by Gurney Nutting (Nationales Automuseum)
Trofeo Coppa d´Oro Villa d´Este (Best of Show by Public Referendum): 1957 BMW 507 Roadster (Dirk de Groen). Also won Trofeo Vranken-Pommery (Best Iconic Car)
Trofeo BMW Group Classic (Most Sensitive Restoration): 1939 Lagonda V12 DHC (Nishant Dossa)
Trofeo ASI (Best-Preserved Post-War Car): 1965 Serenissima 308V Torpedo by Fantuzzi (Tom McGough)
Trofeo Auto and Design (Most Exciting Design): 1967 OSI Silver Fox Prototype (Paul-Emile Bessade)
Trofeo il Canto del Motore (Best Engine Sound): 1956 Aston Martin DB3S (Private Collection)
Trofeo Automobile Club Como (Car Driven From Farthest Away): 1927 Rolls-Royce 20HP Saloon by HJ Mulliner (Axel Schröter)
Trofeo dei Schedoni (Best-Preserved Leather Interior): 1963 Jaguar E-type Lightweight (Richard Cook)
Class Awards
Glorious Excess: The Evolution of the ‘Money No Object’ Motor Car, 1920-1940: 1933 Duesenberg SJ Sweep Panel Dual-Cowl Phaeton La Grande (Thomas Maoli)
Renaissance: The Post-War European Sports Car Comes of Age: 1951 Ferrari 212 Export by Vignale (Michael Weisberg)
Titans of the Track: When the Boss Says “Let’s race!”: 1954 Ferrari 250 Monza Barchetta by Scaglietti (Giuseppe Prevosti)
Go Big or Go Home: Automotive Excess of the ’80s to the New Millennium, When Nothing Seemed Too Fast, Expensive or Bold: 1993 Bugatti EB 110 GT (Maurizio De Angelis)
Vanishing Act: Gone But Proudly Not Forgotten: 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport (Robert Kudela)
Style Matters: Opulence Meets Elegance Before Times Change Forever: 1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica by Pininfarina (Sam Lombardo)
