PADUA – The motoring retrospective offered by Auto e Moto d’Epoca di Padova – the largest European fair dedicated to vintage and collectible cars – is an immersive experience in the heart of the aesthetic and engineering creativity that has always pushed and characterized the evolution of the four-wheeled world.
The narrative of the 2021 event therefore presents multiple stimuli to the imagination that, starting with the Passione Motorsport exhibitions, celebrates the Italian victories through the 1955 Lancia D driven by Fangio, the motorcycles of the Gilera domain produced from 1950-57, the Alfa Romeo Gta Superturismo by Alessandro Nannini and a trio of Lancia track with Martini livery including the unforgettable Beta Montecarlo. The Bertone collection at the Asi Village is also eye-catching, consisting of 15 extraordinary prototypes designed for as many manufacturers.
Outside the racing department, the event with five thousand models on display, is a riot of soft lines, precious upholstery, chrome and canvas roofs restored to their original splendor as for the Mercedes 190 SL which belonged to Gina Lollobrigida and the subject of a scrupulous restoration. Evocative of the “Swinging Fifties”, the icon of the star was born as a more accessible alternative to the scenographic “seagull wings” while today, an example in good condition easily surpasses the quotation of one hundred thousand euros. The same goes for the Jaguar XK 120 Ots (prices in sharp rise) which can be purchased for 150,000 euros from Oldtimer Farm. Among the various jewels exhibited at the fair, the auction house Sotheby’s offers a shining Porsche 356 1500 for 180,000 euros and moving into the central courtyard, the queen is the Ferrari 256 Gtb di Ruote da Sogno for which seven-figure bank transfers are needed. In addition to the increase in tickets and the never so high number of treasures exhibited in the 11 pavilions, the organizers registered a strong interest in the custom-built Maranello which in the 2021 edition, in some way dominated the scene and delighted the audience with the 365 GT4 2 + 2 (the last model built and the last Ferrari ever to bear the initials 365) and with the mustard-colored Daytona painted in homage to the 1967 victory by the 330 P4 on the US circuit.
The indelible Ferrari imprint continues in the corridor T with the Lancia Stratos Hf powered by Maranello that dominated in the rallies, and then in the elegant atmospheres evoked by the 250 GT on a GT Pininfarina base shortened by Vaccari, and reconstructed by Drogo in 1965. To the list of cars cult is added the Maserati 26B of 1928 built by the Maserati brothers in the Bologna workshops, and evolution of the previous type “26” which obtained third place in the Targa Florio 1927.
Fast forward to the modern era and the performance spotlights illuminate the unmistakable livery of the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 designed to participate in the German DTM championship in the 2.5-liter and 6-cylinder class. Derived from the fusion of two winning groups of Italian history, the model shares the designers of the Lancia Delta, the F1 single-seater and the 155 Gta, while for a nostalgic dip into “artisan” productions driven by passion and pioneering spirit, the Giannini Sport 750 (ex car of the driver Luigi Musso exhibited in the Classic car Charter stand) with “torpedo” type bodywork signed by Giulio Ferrandi who ran two editions of the MilleMiglias.
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