Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

The story of this event stretches back to September 1929. At that time, the event was intended to celebrate the most beautiful new car with the most sophisticatedly styled metal vestment. Many vehicles from that era had bodies with individually handcrafted coachwork. Villa d’Este is a historic palace that has been a hotel since 1873, and it has provided the aristocratic setting right up to the present day. Throughout the world, the five-star luxury hotel has the reputation of being a blue-riband venue.

After the Second World War, the idea of a beauty contest became increasingly relevant as a result of the burgeoning industrialisation of automobile construction. However, following an interlude, connoisseurs rekindled the idea in 1995 and established a new edition – preserving the original beauty and dimensions, but now with classic automobiles. In 1999, BMW took over as the patron of the event. Since 2002, the concours has incorporated the original idea by once more embracing modern design. Concept Cars compete against each other in a class respected across the world. These vehicles cannot be seen anywhere else in the world as part of a contest held in the open air and featuring them on the move.

Since 2005, BMW and the Grand Hotel Villa d'Este have held the event as joint organisers. The Concorso di Motociclette was established in 2011 and this forms a further attraction with rarities on two wheels. Starting in 2020, even sidecar combinations will be invited to take part in the contest.

The global cachet of the event is unsurpassed. Since 1929, participation of a classic vehicle in the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este has been regarded as an outstanding accomplishment. Winning a prize here causes reputation and value to increase significantly. The glamorous, traditional and yet intimate atmosphere of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este continues to be incomparable.