Top prize at the second running of the Concorso D’Eleganza Varignana 1705, held just outside Bologna in Italy, went to a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB owned by Giuseppe Matildi.
Fresh from a two-and-a-half-year restoration by renowned Ferrari specialist Autofficina Bonini, the Best of Show car impressed the judges not only with its immaculate presentation, but also with its unusual history. Sold to its first owner by Crepaldi in Milan, the 275 GTB was one of the last long-nose models, and it left the factory with a modified chassis to allow the fitment of a torque tube, making it essentially a test bed for future models including the GTB/4.
Matildi bought the Ferrari in 1989, and under his ownership the car has competed in ten Tour de France and eight Italia Classica events. In 1997 he dispatched the GTB to Autofficina Sauro for a thorough refresh, then 25 years later he opted for a second full restoration to its original condition.
Matildi’s 275 GTB took the Best of Motor Valley award in addition to the top prize
Stefano Pasini, president of the jury and author of more than 30 automotive books, said: “The Best of Show was a heavenly product, because it was one of the most beautiful Ferraris, in iconic yellow, with a 100 percent restoration and presentation. So it was absolutely impossible not to consider this the best.”
Concorso D’Eleganza Varignana 1705 may not yet have quite the international cachet of fellow Italian concours such as Lake Como’s Villa D’Este, but it occupies no less a spectacular setting.
The Palazzo di Varignana sits on 500 hectares, with the grand 18th century property now accompanied by a hotel complex featuring some eight restaurants and bars, seven swimming pools, golf facilities, mountain-bike trails, gym and spa. It’s also home to a working estate that produces award-winning olive oil, wine, fruit, honey and saffron.
Despite the imposing size of the estate, the concours is one of the most intimate in the world, with a mere 35 cars entered. By far the majority of participants for the 2024 event were Italian, although collectors from Germany and even Japan travelled to take part.
From their static display in the landscaped gardens, the cars paraded to the doors of the grand Palazzo – where, not unlike a school sports day, everyone got a rosette for taking part.
Matildi’s 275 GTB took the Best of Motor Valley award in addition to the top prize. Other winners were a 1925 Bugatti Type 35, which won the best pre-war – or Before the Storm – award, and a 1962 Porsche 904, which was named Stuttgart Excellence winner. A 1963 Jaguar E-type took the British Postcards class, and a 1950 Alfa Romeo 2500 Villa D’Este claimed the romantically titled Italians Outside the Chorus prize.
“I can say that the level of the cars were even better, even higher, than last year. So the selection was very good. The cars that did not win were not losers. They were exceptionally good cars that simply had a better competitor in front. The general level of the cars was absolutely astonishing,” summarised Pasini.
Find out more about the Concorso D’Eleganza Varignana 1705 here.
