Villa dEste

Classic Talbot & Bugatti for Auction at Villa d'Este

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Lovers of Art Deco-era French sportscars will have their opportunity to bid on a couple of pristine examples at the upcoming Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, where RM Auctions is to set up shop for the first time.

In addition to the Bertone concept cars on the docket will be this beautiful 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupe. Chassis #90112 is one of only 11 with Figoni et Falaschi's second-series "New York" bodywork, and is further distinguished by its sun roof.

There's also a 1937 Bugatti 57SC Atalante (not to be confused with the rarer Atlantic coupe). One of only 40 built, chassis #57551 is an absolute gem in its own right.

Tags: 1937 Bugatti 57SC Atalante, 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupe, bugatti, concorso deleganza villa deste, rm auctions, talbot, talbot-lago, villa deste

Bertone Concept Cars up for Auction at Villa d'Este

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Concept cars are typically designed and crafted as one-of-a-kind creations by automakers or independent design studios, shown at a couple of expositions, and then disappear into museum collections. But every once in a while, these radical rarities come up for sale or auction. And that once in a while is about to arrive, and arrive in a big way, this coming May. That's when the venerable Bertone Museum collection will cross the auction block.

The six concept cars were all created in the 1960s-1980s by the famed Italian design house, which is now facing a restructuring and is selling off much of its collection. The items up for auction are the 1967 Lamborghini Marzal, 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero, 1963 Chevrolet Testudo, 1974 Lamborghini Bravo, 1980 Lamborghini Athon and 1978 Lancia Sibilo concept cars, ranging in pre-sale price estimates between six figures and as much as $2.5 million apiece.

The sale is being conducted by the venerable RM Auctions as part of its first event during the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on the shores of Lake Como on May 21.

Tags: bertone, concept car, Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste, lake como, rm auctions, villa deste

Rare $5 Million Ferrari Stars in RM's Villa d'Este Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Rare $5 Million Ferrari Stars in RM's Villa d'Este Sale

A rare 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta by Pinin Farina (above) is expected to fetch up to $5 million at RM Auctions' debut sale during the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Lake Como on May 21. Resplendent in two-tone ivory and metallic blue, the unique Ferrari, s/n 0490 AM, was the last 375 MM built and reportedly the last Ferrari to carry the famed 'Mille Miglia' designation. Displayed on the Ferrari stand at the Turin Motor Show in 1955, its first owner was official Ferrari dealer and gentleman racer Inico Bernabei. 0490 AM was later acquired by Count Antonio Naselli before being exported to the U.S. In 2003, it was the recipient of an extensive, concours-quality restoration returning the car to its Turin Motor Show specifications. It has since been displayed at a number of the world's most prestigious concours events, including the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2004 where it was judged 'Best in Class', as well as the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 2005.

Tags: classic cars, Ferrari, Ferrari 375, Lake Como, RM Auctions, Villa dEste

Zagato Takes the Wraps off the Alfa TZ3 Corsa at Villa d'Este

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

It doesn't get more glamorous than the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. The show is held every year on the shores of Lake Como, and draws a mix of some of the most jaw-droppingly, heart-achingly beautiful classics and modern concept cars from the world over.

Our own Jared Paul Stern brought you a summary of the award-winners from this year's Concorso, among them the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa by Zagato, which won the design award for concept cars. The one-of-a-kind racer was previewed in the days leading up to the show, and suitably impressed the judges, journalists and observers in attendance. A suitable 50th birthday celebration for Andrea Zagato, the head of the design studio responsible for the TZ3, and for Alfa Romeo, which celebrates its centenary this year.

The one-off was commissioned by a German gentleman racer named Martin Kapp, and lays that unspeakably gorgeous aluminum bodywork over a carbon fiber chassis and the 4.7-liter V8 from the Alfa 8C Competizione. Click on the image above for all the angles.

Tags: alfa, alfa romeo, alfa romeo tz3 corsa, alfa romeo tz3 corsa zagato, alfa tz3 corsa, carrozzeria zagato milano, Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste, villa deste, zagato, zagato alfa romeo tz3 corsa, zagato milano, zagato tz3 corsa

1955 Maserati Wins Coppa d'Oro at Villa d'Este

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

A rare 1955 Maserati A6GCS Spider bodied by Frua (above), owned by American collector John F. Bookout Jr., won the historic Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este – Best of Show by Public Referendum at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este which took place April 23-25 at the famed Lake Como resort in Italy. The beautiful roadster also won top honors in the Post-War Open Sports Cars class. The Best of Show awarded by the judges at the event, which was sponsored by the BMW Group, went to a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150 C SS Teardrop Coupé bodied Figoni & Falaschi owned by another American collector, Oscar Davis. The Concorso d'Eleganza Design Award for concept cars and prototypes went to the Zagato Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa Coupé that my colleague Noah Joseph previewed last week. Over 5,000 visitors attended the event.

Source

Tags: 1955 maserati, Alfa Romeo, BMW, classic cars, Concours dElegance, Italy, Lake Como, Maserati, Villa dEste

Zagato Previews new Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa ahead of Villa d'Este

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Alfa Romeo and Zagato have a long history of collaboration between them. 90 years in fact, out of Alfa's 100-year history. So to mark the automaker's centenary, the famous design house – which has recently undertaken work for Ferrari, Bentley and Spyker, to name just a few – is preparing to unveil a new vehicle at the upcoming Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.

Following an earlier report forecasting the creation of the vehicle, Zagato has now released a handful of details and the solitary overhead shot you see above. Called the TZ3 Corsa, it follows in the footsteps of the original TZ and TZ2 racers. Built upon a carbon fiber frame with lightweight aluminum body panels that evidently bear much in common with the flagship Alfa 8C Competizione on which it is based, the TZ3 Corsa has been commissioned by an unspecified gentleman racer in Germany, who apparently intends on campaigning the one-of-a-kind creation in actual motorsport competition. Stay tuned as the prestigious open-air auto show on the shores of Italy's Lake Como approaches at the end of the month.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo race cars by Zagato

Tags: alfa, alfa romeo, alfa romeo tz3, alfa romeo tz3 corsa, alfa tz3, alfa tz3 corsa, concorso deleganza villa deste, villa deste, zagato, zagato milano

Zagato to Debut new Alfa Romeo Concept at Villa d'Este

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 by Zagato – Image courtesy Brian Snelson CC2.0

If you were enamored of the selection of Alfa Romeo concepts unveiled this year at the Geneva Motor Show, we've got more news for you. In celebration of its centenary, Alfa Romeo has teamed up with yet another stoic Italian coachbuilder with which it shares a rich history to unveil another concept car.

Following in the lines of the legendary TZ and TZ2, the new TZ3 Corsa by Zagato is set to be unveiled at Villa d'Este – the most glamorous auto show in the world, held on the shores of Italy's Lake Como. Based on a carbon fiber chassis, the TZ3 Corsa is tipped to take the engine from the sumptuous 8C Competizione, wrapped in what promises – if Zagato's previous works are any indication – a real show-stopper. Stay tuned for more.

Tags: alfa, alfa romeo, alfa romeo tz3 corsa, alfa romeo zagato, carrozeria, concorso deleganza villa deste, villa deste, zagato, zagato milano, zagato tz3 corsa

Bugatti's 100th Birthday Past & Present at Villa d'Este

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

With its million-euro Veyron, the grandest of grand touring cars, Bugatti may be a long way from racing these days. But back in the day its Type 35 Grand Prix car was the dominating racing machine of choice for gentleman racers and professional drivers alike. Over the course of a decade in the inter-way period, the proliferation of Bugatti Type 35s achieved an unfathomable 2000 race victories at the hands of such revered pre-WWII driving aces as Jean-Pierre Wimille, Achille Varzi, Malcolm Campbell and Prinz Hermann zu Leiningen. To commemorate those glory days and celebrate its milestone anniversary, each of those drivers gave his name and racing color to one of four special edition Veyrons which the marque rolled out on the shores of Lake Como along with their historic counterparts.

No word on whether these particular Veyrons, of which only one of each will be made, will be available for sale, but if they are expect a considerable premium. The special display, which we previewed last week, is just one of a variety of anniversary celebrations which Bugatti has got lined up this year, which started with the Bleu Centenaire edition debuted in Geneva, and will include special events at Pebble Beach in August and at the company's factory in Molsheim in mid September, so stay tuned. In the meantime, why not have a glance at the images in the gallery below for a closer look at the Bugatti specials past and present.

Source

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Bugatti to Celebrate 100th Anniversary with Quartet of Special-Edition Veyron Centenaires at Lake Como

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Hard to believe that with owners selling off their unique Veyrons, Bugatti is still producing new special editions. But so the case would appear to be as the most premium of premium automotive marques gears up to celebrate its 100th anniversary this weekend with not one, but four new versions of its seven-figure supercar.

Following up on the one-off Bleu Centenaire edition which Bugatti unveiled at the Geneva show last month, the new Centenaire edition is scheduled to debut at the prestigious Villa d'Este auto show on the shores of Lake Como where, as we reported earlier, Ralph Lauren will also be demonstrating his very special Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic to commemorate the marque's centenary. Each of the Veyron Centenaires pays tribute to one of Bugatti's pre-WWII driving aces, each hailing from a different country and represented by a different color: Sir Malcolm Campell's in British Racing Green, Achille Varzi in Italian Racing Red, Jean-Pierre Wimille in French Racing Blue (Bugatti's signature color) and Hermann zu Leiningen in an off-white to represent Germany. No word yet on pricing, but prospective buyers can expect to pay an extra premium over the – ahem – "ordinary" Veyron's million-euro asking price. Stay tuned for more.

Source

Tags: anniversary, bugatti, bugatti veyron, bugatti veyron centenaire, BugattiVeyron, BugattiVeyronCentenaire, centenaire, centennary, concours delegance, ConcoursDelegance, special edition, special edition veyron, SpecialEdition, SpecialEditionVeyron, veyron, veyron centenaire, VeyronCentenaire, villa deste, VillaDeste

Ralph Lauren's Bugatti Stars in Lake Como Concorso

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

At the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy on April 24-26, designer Ralph Lauren will be presenting his multiple concours-winning 1938 Bugatti Atlantic 57SC (above), one of only three built. At the event, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, Lauren's beautiful car, worth several million dollars, will be making its first European appearance in 18 years. The Concorso is held at the ultra-luxurious Grand Hotel Villa d'Este on the shores of Lake Como, where part of Casino Royale was filmed, and which we featured in our post on the world's most luxurious private gardens. More than 50 classic beauties spanning six decades of motoring history have been selected to appear at this year's Concorso, which is presented by BMW with sponsorship from Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux, while bespoke coachbuilders Bertone and Zagato will stage world premieres of their new concept cars.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Bugatti, Girard-Perregaux, Italy, Lake Como, LakeComo, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren, Villa dEste, VillaDeste

The World's Most Luxurious Private Landscapes

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Garden, Books

The lush oases pictured in Luxury Private Gardens, the newest title in teNeues' brilliant Luxury Books series, veer between the pleasantly inspirational and oppressively beautiful. In other words, while looking at it made us want to rush outside and start planting things, it also made us despair of ever creating anything one tenth as attractive as the private paradises portrayed between its covers. Much better, we feel, to simply sit back, mix a drink, read the damned book and let someone else do the digging, pruning, weeding and whatnot. But we digress.

Even the most lavish gardens in these pages displaying "the highest standards of horticultural excellence" are founded on simplicity, the book assures us: "Stripped down to their bare essentials, they are like a well-cut couturier's gown - nothing but an utterly simple response to the unadorned landscape or the naked human body they are designed to fit." The incredible Villa d'Este in Lake Como, Italy (where part of Casino Royale was filmed) pictured on the cover, with its elegant, elaborate parterres doesn't exactly scream simplicity to us, but we could stare at it all day. See the gallery for a luxe garden tour.

Gallery: Luxury Private Gardens