20 May 2019

Dear Readers,
In just a few days’ time, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2019 will begin in Cernobbio, Northern Italy. This edition of the BMW Group Classic Newsletter is dedicated entirely to the world’s most traditional beauty contest for Historic Cars and Motorcycles. Over the weekend 24 to 26 May 2019, fans of classic vehicles from all over the world will be celebrating visually and acoustically impressive rare gems on the shores of Lake Como. They will also be celebrating two landmark anniversaries under the motto The Symphony of Engines – 90 Years of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and BMW Automobiles”. 

The artistry of automobile building inspired competition north and south of the Alps and it also resulted in some happy unions. Particularly, when BMW was commissioning the orders. Giorgio Giugiaro was 22 years old when he penned the BMW 3200 CS in 1960. The designer from the prestigious coachbuilder Bertone was ahead of his time when he countered the baroque opulence of the 1950s with svelte elegance. Naturally, both styles will be appreciated at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2019, presented by the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and BMW Group Classic. 

A preludium in classical music is an introductory part of a composition. The “prélude” to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este (24 – 26 May 2019) is rather more than that. It sets the scene for the beauty contest of Historic Cars and Motorcycles being held at Cernobbio, Northern Italy, but it is also a highlight in its own right. On Thursday, 23 May 2019, the nominated vehicles – some of the most beautiful automobiles of all time – will for the first time drive along a route of some 100 kilometres through the fabulous countryside of Lombardy between Lake Como and Lake Lugano. This very special outing will be presented by our partner Pirelli.

The special exhibition at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2019 in the Rotunda of Villa Erba is celebrating the era when BMW started to build motor cars. The identity of the brand unfolded from 1929 onwards, when the successful first masterpiece was launched – the BMW 3/15 PS DA 2 –until the early 1930s. The first inline six-cylinder powering the BMW 303 in 1933 was followed three years later by the legendary BMW 328, a sports car that continued its success right through to the post-war period. The early automobiles of BMW are displayed together with Historic Motorcycles from the 1920s in an authentically replicated town scenario. Another highlight of the exhibition is lovingly presented in a contemporary ambience: a Rolls-Royce 10EX Phantom I Open Streamline Sports Tourer from 1926, the most important concept car produced by the British marque.

The aesthetic and historic value of the award winners at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este should be reflected in equally exclusive trophies. The BMW Group has implemented this ambition by harnessing the know-how of a number of departments. Conceptual styling from the subsidiary company Designworks and manufacture at the Additive Manufacturing Centre, i.e. 3D printing. The result of this union between traditional design and contemporary production would unquestionably be worth a prize in its own right. The new trophies that are replacing the previous awards will be conferred on the class winners, the winners of several special awards, and on the overall winner – the “Best of Show”.