Villa D'Este The Italian Concours

9788888165029Click to enlarge product image
Villa D'Este The Italian Concours

Villa D'Este The Italian Concours

Author: Various

  • 9788888165029
  • Out of stock - Email me when in stock
  • Out Of Print (No Stock)
  • 2004
  • Awaiting Review

Our Price: £49.99

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A beautiful history of the classic editions of Italy’s most famous Concours d’Elegance. The “Coppa di Oro di Villa d’Este” (known for some years as the “Coppa d’Oro Principessa di Piemonte”) was held in ten editions, annually from 1929 to 1937 (except for 1936) and twice after the War (in 1947 and 1949). Italy’s most luxurious hotel, the Villa d’Este on Lake Como, served as the perfect venue for the event. The Concours immediately became the most prestigious annual gathering for Italian coachbuilders and the most important venue for the debut of new Italian coachwork. A prize at Villa d’Este was the most coveted award an Italian coachbuilder could hope to receive. Although the historic Villa d’Este Concours was a showcase for new designs, in recent years the event has been revived as a show for classic vehicles from many countries and has again resumed its place as one of the world’s most prestigious automotive events. This fascinating book has been researched, written and designed by Italy’s most authoritative automotive journalist, Angelo Tito Anselmi. The fascinating 120 historic photos from the period 1929-49 are beautifully reproduced in duotone; most are focused on the prewar era have never been previously published such as the Alfa Romeo RLSS Zagato Spider from circa 1926, Isotta Fraschini 8ASS, Alfa Romeo 1750 GS Flying Star, Lancia Dilambdas, Maserati 26m Sport, Fiat Balilla Sport, Mercedes Benz SS through to the Cisitalia 202 Berlinetta Sport by Pinin Farina, and Alfa Romeo 6c 2500SS. They graphically illustrate the style and the ambiance of the period and document the beginnings of Italy’s ongoing celebration of the art of automotive design. Tito Anselmi reviews the history of each annual Concours, primarily relying upon excerpts from contemporary newspaper and magazine reviews of each event. The book also includes a special section reviewing the Alfa Romeo 6C2500 Super Sport “Villa d’Este” Coupe by Carrozzeria Touring, which took its name from the fact that it won the Grand Prize in the public referendum at the 1949 show. The book concludes with tables which list all of the awards given at the ten events held between 1929 and 1949.

Publisher: 16 Ton Press

Status: Out of Print (No Stock)

Binding: HBD

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