This weekend the luxurious Villa d'Este hotel once again hosted the annual Concorso d'Eleganza, celebrating its 80th anniversary. First held in 1929 and not open to the public, the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este is the oldest and most exclusive event of its type. This year's edition featured fifty of the finest classic cars as well as eight of the latest concept cars and prototypes. Among them were three world premieres; the Aston Martin One-77, Bertone Mantide and Morgan Aero SuperSport. The classic cars nevertheless took center stage with an impressive ranging from an early Rolls-Royce Phantom I to the Momo Mirage of 1972. The cars also varied in their condition from carefully preserved like the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GTC to extensively restored like the Ferrari 250 GT Europa that had just been completely overhauled at the factory. Further highlights included a Fiat 8V with 170 bhp competition engine, a Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I that has risen from the ashes like the Phoenix, the SS 90 Prototype, effectively the very first Jaguar sports car and the very wild BMW 2800 Bertone Spicup. Proving that not all of these cars are 'trailer queens' one competitor drove his 8-Litre Bentley well over 1000 km across Europe and through the Swiss Alps. Both the panel of expert judges and the public picked a best of show and for the first time they came to a unanimous decision.
Our photographers made the same 1000 km trip across the continent to visit one of Europe's most beautiful areas and of course cover the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. The have returned with a class by class report and an exclusive 200-shot gallery.

2009 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Report and Slideshow