Palazzo di Varignana welcomed international collectors, jurors, and enthusiasts for the third edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Varignana 1705, confirming its place among Europe’s most enchanting concours weekends. For three days, the rolling hills of Bologna hosted an extraordinary gathering of collectors, jurors, and enthusiasts who celebrated automotive excellence, Italian lifestyle, and cultural heritage.
Thirty-seven rare and significant cars competed across six exclusive classes, evaluated by an international jury chaired by historian and author Stefano Pasini. The 2025 edition introduced Classic Car Talks, a new platform of conversations on culture, innovation, and investment held in partnership with Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola and Azimut Capital Management.
The 2025 edition of the Varignana 1705 Concorso d’Eleganza crowned the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Berlinetta Pinin Farina as Best of Show and the Ferrari 121 LM as the People’s Choice Award winner
Best of Show
The highest honor of Best of Show was awarded to the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Berlinetta Pinin Farina (1950), owned by celebrated Italian collector Corrado Lopresto. A one-off masterpiece originally commissioned by Sicilian nobleman Giovanni San Giorgio Gualtieri, this Berlinetta was the first car in history to feature dual headlights, a design breakthrough that influenced generations. With its elegant proportions, 2.4-litre inline-six, and impeccable provenance, the car has earned global recognition and triumphed once again at Varignana 2025.
People’s Choice Award
The Ferrari 121 LM (1955), owned by Elad Shraga, captivated both the public and experts. Equipped with a rare 4.4-litre inline-six engine delivering 360 hp, it marked a turning point from Ferrari’s traditional V12s. After debuting at the 1000 km of Buenos
Aires and winning the Giro di Sicilia with Piero Taruffi, it raced in the United States with legends such as Shelby, Hill, and Miles. This ultra-rare Lampredi-powered racing car, built in just four examples, received both the People’s Choice Award and the Special Prize from the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, confirming its legendary status in endurance racing.
Class Winners
Each of the concours classes delivered an evocative glimpse into different eras of automotive artistry:
- Supercar Class: Lamborghini Miura P400 (1968) – Nicola Sacchetti. Widely regarded as the world’s first true supercar, Gandini’s Miura stunned with its low, radical silhouette and mid-engined V12 — a car that redefined the meaning of performance.
- Vintage Elegance: Bugatti Type 49 (1931) – Silvia Nicolis. The final model designed by Ettore Bugatti himself, combining refined 8-cylinder engineering with exquisite coachwork, epitomizing pre-war French luxury.
- Motori per il Dopoguerra: Fiat 8V (1950) – Daniele Ferrua. Fiat’s audacious 8V coupé marked Italy’s post-war return to high-performance cars, clothed by the nation’s best coachbuilders and acclaimed for its advanced chassis.
- Raffinatezza Italiana: Lancia Aurelia B20 4th Series (1955) – Gianluca Garagnani. One of Pininfarina’s most elegant designs, blending a V6 engine with transaxle balance, the Aurelia remains a Gran Turismo icon.
- Gioielli di Maranello: Ferrari 330 GTC Speciale (1967) – Brandon Wang. Commissioned for Princess de Rethy, one of only six built, this bespoke Ferrari exemplifies exclusivity and refinement in 1960s Maranello history. The same car also received the Special Motor Valley Trophy, presented by President Andrea Pontremoli. “The secret handle positioned under the steering wheel, designed to allow the queen to step out without the king having to rise,” said Pontremoli, “represents that unique attention to detail which has made the Motor Valley what it is today.”
- Aerodynes: Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Berlinetta Pinin Farina (1950) – Corrado Lopresto. A one-off masterpiece by Pinin Farina, considered the first car in history to feature dual front headlights.
- Auto in Divisa – Service Vehicles: Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Targa (1989) – Lorenzo Matteucci. Delivered new to the Dutch Highway Police, complete with lights and radio, this Carrera 3.2 tells the unusual story of how Porsche engineering served public duty.
Special Recognition
The Chairman’s Award, presented by the President of the Concorso Massimo Dall’Olmo, was awarded to the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Cabriolet Pinin Farina owned by Björn Schmidt, one of the most anticipated entries. Carefully restored and famously admired by Hollywood icon Rita Hayworth, this car—produced in only 40 examples—represents the pinnacle of post-war Italian elegance: flowing lines, Pininfarina craftsmanship, and a sporty soul by Alfa Romeo.
Classic Car Talks
New for 2025, the Concorso introduced the Classic Car Talks, a forum of conversations designed to expand the event beyond the concours lawn and explore the cultural, technological, and financial dimensions of classic motoring. Organized in collaboration with Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola and Azimut Capital Management, the program brought together leading voices from academia, motorsport, and finance.
Through this program, the Concorso reinforced its role not only as a celebration of beauty and heritage, but also as a stage for dialogue on sustainability, motorsport tradition, and the investment potential of historic cars.
A Vision of Beauty and Heritage
“In just three years, the Concorso d’Eleganza Varignana 1705 has grown into a true celebration of excellence, where cars, culture, and lifestyle meet,” said Carlo Gherardi, Founder of Palazzo di Varignana. “This event was created and is driven by Palazzo di Varignana, embodying our values of beauty, heritage, and hospitality. We are proud to have established an international stage where automotive artistry is not only preserved but also shared with new generations in an atmosphere that reflects the best of Italian lifestyle.”
A Weekend of Italian Excellence
Framed by the elegant resort of Palazzo di Varignana, with its panoramic landscapes, refined hospitality, five restaurants and wellness spa, the Concorso has rapidly established itself as a highlight of the international concours calendar. With the support of Azimut Capital Management, Cribis, Emma Villas and Fiore 1827, together with the partnerships of Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Laurent Perrier, and under the patronage of the Motor Valley Association and ASI – Automotoclub Storico Italiano, the 2025 edition once again confirmed Varignana as a unique stage where heritage, innovation, and Italian lifestyle come together.
