Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014: Classic Icons and Modern Concepts on Show
The 2014 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este brought pre-war legends, post-war icons and striking new concepts to the shores of Lake Como, with live images capturing the event’s highlights.
The gates opened on the 2014 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on 23 May, drawing collectors, designers and manufacturers to Lake Como for a weekend celebrating automotive history and design. The event, now in its 85th year, remains one of the most prestigious gatherings for classic and concept cars, with the BMW Group and Grand Hotel Villa d’Este as organisers.
This year’s line-up featured a broad sweep of motoring history, from a 1908 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost to a 1950 Ferrari 195 Inter. Pre-war highlights included a 1922 Hispano-Suiza H6 B, a 1923 Duesenberg A Straight 8, and a 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS. The concours also brought out a 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57, and a 1937 BMW 328, each representing the peak of their era’s design and engineering.
Awards and judging at the 2014 event
A panel of judges awarded prizes across a range of categories. The Trofeo BMW Group Classic went to the most sensitively restored car, while the Trofeo Rolls-Royce recognised the most elegant example from the marque. Other trophies included the FIVA award for best preserved pre-war car, the Automobile Club di Como prize for the car driven the furthest to the event, and the Trofeo Auto & Design for the most exciting design. The Trofeo Foglizzo highlighted interior craftsmanship, and the ASI trophy went to the best preserved post-war car.
- 1908 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
- 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II
- 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith
- 1922 Hispano-Suiza H6 B
- 1923 Duesenberg A Straight 8
- 1929 Packard 640 Custom Eight
- 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS
- 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K
- 1936 Lancia Astura Type 233
- 1937 Bugatti Type 57
- 1937 BMW 328
- 1950 Ferrari 195 Inter
- 2013 F.LLI Frigerio Berlinetta SS
- Infiniti Q30 Concept
- Giugiaro Parcour
- Volvo Concept Estate
- Maserati Alfieri
Modern concepts and design studies
Concept cars and design studies have become a fixture at Villa d’Este, with manufacturers using the event to gauge public reaction to new ideas. The Maserati Alfieri, Infiniti Q30 Concept and Volvo Concept Estate all attracted attention from both traditionalists and designers. The Giugiaro Parcour, a crossover concept, continued Italdesign’s tradition of blending sports car performance with off-road ability.
What the concours means for collectors and manufacturers
For collectors, Villa d’Este remains an opportunity to present rare cars to an international audience and compete for prizes that carry weight in the classic car world. For manufacturers, the event has become a showcase for design direction and concept innovation, with several recent concepts making their public debut on the lawns. The presence of both historic and modern vehicles underlines the event’s role in bridging automotive heritage and future design.
