The Revival from 1999

After the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este was last held in its original form with the first new post-war vehicles in 1949, the event was forgotten for almost 40 years.

The Italian historian and author Tito Anselmi who revived the Consorso, joining forces with the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este to re-establish the Concorso d’Eleganza. The first attempt at revival was made in 1986, although this event featured classics from yesteryear rather than new automobiles. Unfortunately, this was a flash in the pan because a further nine years elapsed before the next event was held in 1995. Two other Concorsos followed in 1996 and 1997. However, the Concorso had to be abandoned again in 1998 and there was a risk of the event being discontinued altogether.

At the end of the 1990s, the event in Cernobbio came to the notice of the BMW Group with its brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce. The BMW Group took sole responsibility as the patron of the Concorso d’Eleganza for the years 1999 to 2001, under the management of the then Director of BMW Group Mobile Tradition, Christian Eich. Now, the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and the BMW Group are celebrating the tenth anniversary of their cooperation.

After rather modest beginnings, the Corcorso has been continuously improved and expanded. The selection and high quality of the automobiles, the strong international presence, the smooth organization, the exclusive standard of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, the fabulous landscape of Lake Como and the numerous participants and visitors have made the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este into one of the most important Concours worldwide to date.

The return to the roots of the Concorso represented a milestone in 2002. In addition to the competition of the classics, an award for the latest design studies for concept cars and prototypes was instated. A Design Talk involving some of the most prestigious experts in the field was also established. This is structured as a podium event for the media and focuses on themes relating to automobile design. It was intended to underpin the focus on design that sets the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este definitively apart from other Concours.

Since the BMW Group took over patronage, the event is held on the two days of the last weekend in April. While the Saturday is reserved as a closed event at the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este for the participants, the media and the invited guests, the Concorso is open to the public on Sunday in the park of the Villa Erba located close to the hotel. More than 50 of the most beautiful classics in the world from the 1920s to the 1970s and around a dozen of the latest concept cars and prototypes make the hearts of the visitors to the exhibition and at the parade of the automobiles beat a little faster. Special shows – generally to celebrate anniversaries of famous designers – and exhibitions of the BMW and Rolls Royce brands have for several years augmented this premium social event celebrating historic automobiles. The cooperation between the BMW Group and the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este is set to continue during the coming years.

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