Alfa Romeo 1900 Cabrio Pininfarina Wins Best of Show in Mantova

The 10th edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Città di Mantova, organized by Club 8Volanti Tazio Nuvolari with the patronage of ACI Mantova, brought together a remarkable selection of historic automobiles in the evocative setting of Villa Schiarino Lena di Bancole.

The event once again confirmed the growing relevance of the Mantova concours in the Italian classic car calendar. Surrounded by frescoed halls, shaded gardens and the atmosphere of one of the most elegant villas in the region, visitors were able to admire a carefully curated field of 34 cars, ranging from the earliest years of motoring to modern classics.

The judging panel was led by Pietro Camardella, president of the jury and a designer known for his work at Pininfarina and Fiat. Together with Andreas Scheidl, founder and curator of carrozzieri-italiani.com, Camardella focused on the evaluation of design, proportion and elegance, bringing particular attention to the stylistic coherence and historical significance of each car. The jury also included a distinguished group of specialists from the world of restoration, craftsmanship and automotive culture, including Luigi Simoneschi, jury coordinator, master restorers Marco Mondini and Alessandro Scartapatti, expert artisans Andrea and Stefano Maieli, Fabio Tittarelli of ACI Storico, engineer and automotive expert Aga Rossi, and car historian Enzo Marciano.

Their combined expertise allowed each car to be evaluated not only for its visual elegance, but also for its historical value, originality, craftsmanship, state of preservation and overall coherence. In a concours of this kind, beauty alone is not enough: proportion, authenticity, technical integrity and cultural significance all play a decisive role.

The jury awarded the coveted Best of Show title to an Alfa Romeo 1900 Cabriolet by Pininfarina, presented in a refined black livery with biscuit leather interior. The car stood out for its elegance, condition and balanced proportions, perfectly expressing Pininfarina’s post-war interpretation of the Alfa Romeo 1900 platform. It is a model that represents the golden age of Italian coachbuilding, when Turin’s great ateliers transformed production chassis into individual works of automotive design.

The pre-war section was particularly rich, with nine cars built between 1911 and 1939. Among the highlights were a 1911 Marion Bobcat, a rare Ballot Paris Tourer boat tail of 1925, described as the only surviving example of its type, a Fiat 514 Sport Mille Miglia of 1931, a Fiat 514 Torpedo, a Lancia Lambda VII series, a BSA Scout of 1935 and a Jaguar SS Standard Swallow 100 Saloon of 1939.

The post-war field continued the narrative of design and craftsmanship with cars such as the Jaguar XK120, Triumph TR3 “bocca stretta”, Fiat 1100 Sport Zagato, MG TD Spyder, Lancia Aurelia B20, Lancia Flaminia Coupé Pininfarina, Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale, Jaguar E-Type Roadster, Lancia Flavia Coupé 2000, Volkswagen-Porsche 914, Ferrari 308 GTB and Ferrari 208 GTB Turbo.

Several special prizes were also assigned. The Veteran class, covering cars from 1911 to 1925, was won by Albino Bertoletti with the 1925 Ballot Paris Tourer boat tail. The Vintage class, from 1926 to 1940, went to Renato Reggiani with the 1931 Fiat 514 Torpedo. In the Post Vintage class, Marco Micheli received the award with the 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 Cabrio Pininfarina, which also claimed Best of Show.

The Classic class, for cars built between 1961 and 1970, was awarded to Massimo Vecchi with the 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale, while Alberto Mantovani won the Instant Classic class with a 1979 Ferrari 208 GTB Turbo. The Modern class, dedicated to cars from 1981 to 2000, went to Andrea Rossi with the Alfa Romeo SZ Coupé Zagato.

The event also included prizes dedicated to specific themes and associations, including the Coppa ACI Mantova Tazio Nuvolari, awarded to Fausto Zanetti with a 1957 Fiat 1100 Sport Zagato, and the Premio Speciale Club 8Volanti Tazio Nuvolari, awarded to Giovanni Brighetti with an Alfa Romeo RL of 1925.

Beyond the cars, the concours offered a cultural program that enriched the day. A conference by Alberto Mantovani explored the history and significance of the collaboration between Scuderia Modena and Ferrari, attracting strong public participation. The event was further enhanced by an exhibition of memorabilia and aerodynamic study models connected to Ferrari and Pininfarina, including references to the Ferrari F40, Ferrari 456 and the Mythos prototype.

With its combination of rare automobiles, historical depth, expert judging and an elegant setting, the Mantova concours continues to grow as a refined meeting point for collectors, historians and enthusiasts. The 2026 edition confirmed the event’s identity: not only a celebration of preservation and beauty, but also a reminder of the central role that Italian coachbuilding continues to play in the culture of the historic automobile.

Photo credits: Luca Benedetti / Graziano Campagnoli