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Curtain falls on first Cavallino Classic Middle East

WORDS: ELLIOTT HUGHES | PHOTOGRAPHY: CANOSSA EVENTS

The first edition of Canossa Events’ Cavallino Classic Middle East came to a close in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, on December 12, 2021. The two-day event was the first time an international concours dedicated to vintage Ferraris was held in a Gulf state.

A beautiful 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupé Vignale took home the coveted Ferraristi prize, as well as the Gran Turismo Ferrari Cup awarded to the best Ferrari GT.

The winning car was unveiled at the 1953 Paris Motor Show as the first road-faring Ferrari to be fitted with the legendary 3.0-litre Colombo V12 from the 250GT.  

A mere 21 Ferrari 250 Europas were built in total, and only one other example is clothed in Carrozzeria Vignale’s voluptuous bodywork. The Cavallino Classic Middle East organisers stated that it is “one of the most special and unusual-looking Ferraris ever built”.

Silverware was also awarded to several of Maranello’s most iconic and revered models from more recent times, including a 1988 F40 and 1993 512TR Testarossa. The newest model to be honoured as a prize-winner was a 2021 Ferrari Monza SP2, which won the People’s Choice Award for being the best car of its type in attendance.

Other highlights included a 1971 365GTB/4 Daytona, 1999 355 Spider Fiorano, 1999 550 Maranello, 1995 F50, 2003 Enzo, 1970 Dino 246GT and Ferrari 250GT Coupé Pinin Farina.

Cavallino Classic Middle East acted as a prologue for the Dubai Concours, and underscores the growing prevalence and popularity of prestigious concours d’elegance events in the region.

Luigi Orlandini, Canossa Events CEO, said that the Cavallino Classic was “an extraordinary debut show, packed with cars of the highest level”.

Orlandini continued: “Unsurprisingly for this part of the world, where the charm of classic cars was only relatively recently discovered, many of the Ferraris entered in the event do not date back that far, and as a result the average age of the cars and entrants was lower than might be usually expected.”

Prize winners

The Gran Turismo Ferrari Cup for the most iconic Ferrari road car: 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupé Vignale

The Coppa Dodici Cilindri, for the best 12-cylinder engine Ferrari: Ferrari 512TR (1993, chassis #97095)

The Coppa Otto Cilindri, for the best 8-cylinder engine Ferrari: Ferrari 328GTS (1989, chassis #82706)

The Preservation Vintage Cup (pre-1975): Ferrari 365GTB/4 (1973, chassis #16393)

The Preservation Classic Cup (1976-1990): Ferrari 412GT (1988, chassis #71949)

The Excellence Cup, for outstanding restoration quality: Ferrari Dino 246GT (1970, chassis #1148)

The Elegance Cup, for the most outstanding coachbuilt Ferrari: Ferrari F40 (1988, chassis #84140)

The Chairman Cup: Ferrari 250GT Coupé Pinin Farina (1959, chassis #1533)

People’s Choice award for the Best Ferrari Supercar: Ferrari F40 (1988, chassis #84140)

People’s Choice award for the Best Ferrari Monza: Ferrari Monza SP2 (2021, chassis #263445)

Ferraristi Award: 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupé Vignale

For more information on the Cavallino Classic Middle East, Palm Beach Cavallino Classic and Cavallino Classic Modena, click here.

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