This year’s Concorso Italiano featured the usual acres and acres of late-model Lamborghinis and Ferraris, but also had a nice collection of Fiats, Lancias and Alfas, more so than in recent years, it seemed.
“I don’t know where they came from but I’m thrilled they’re here,” said Concorso president Tom MacDowell.
Officially, this year’s event celebrated Ferrari’s 70th anniversary and the Maserati Ghibli’s 50th, and there were several examples of each of those. But with all the Ferraris and Maseratis that show up anyway, that happens just about every year at this sprawling show, and everybody loves it.
One standout this year was the Kode O (say “zero”). After debuting it the day before at The Quail, designer Ken Okuyama brought his Kode O one-off concept car to Concorso and parked it on the lawn. The angular, intense, V12-powered Aventador-based Kode O glowered at the showgoers, as if threatening them with its sharp edges. Who knows, maybe we can drive it one day and slice through traffic?
Softer, more flowing shapes were found in the Lancia and Alfa sections of the show, which seemed to have a greater variety of classic cars. There were two Zagato-bodied Lancia Appias, for instance, and one Appia four-door. But there were also Flaminias and Fulivias as well as Alfas galore from years gone by. There were even two original Fiat Multiplas.
Designer Tom Tjaarda, who recently passed away, was honored with a nice tribute. Designer Pete Brock was interviewed. There was a fashion show. And this year seemed to feature a few more of the picnic-style gatherings in and among the classic cars that were once a staple of the show.
With a stable location at the wonderful, sprawling Black Horse Gold Club, Concorso promises to be molto fun for years to come.