Acres of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, Alfa Romeos and other enthusiast cars gather in a festive and friendly atmosphere to make Concorso Italiano one of the most enjoyable activities in Monterey. Lining the fairways of the Bayonnet Black Horse Golf Course, Concorso Italiano is officially called “The Celebration of Italian Style” and continues to attract record numbers of participants and spectators each year.

While the focus of the event is definitely on Italian cars, other vehicles are welcome with designated car corrals for other marques, including BMW, Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Corvette, Lotus and others. The Concorso Italiano Fashion Show was added in 1996 and has become another popular aspect of the event, as well as dozens of automotive and fashion vendors.

Throughout the four days that make up the Pebble Beach Concours weekend, Concorso Italiano may very well be the event that the largest number of people are having the most fun. The atmosphere is electric with automotive enthusiasm but at the same time, it offers a relaxed element that is difficult to find during the Pebble Beach Concours or the Monterey Historics.

Concorso Italiano is simply about enjoying cars and car people in a festive atmosphere, without the perfection and the pressure to win that permeates the Pebble Beach Concours.

 

Unlike the Pebble Beach Concours on Sunday, which is an invitation-only event, virtually anyone is welcome to display their car and trophies awarded in non-judged categories. The Ferrari Club of America rewards top Ferraris at the event and other car clubs hold judged competitions at Concorso Italiano.

Italian Stallions

Each year Concorso Italiano focuses attention on particular car marques and automotive events. For 2007 Concorso Italiano featured 60 years of Ferrari, the 50th anniversary of the Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder, the 50th anniversary of the Maserati 3500 GT, the 35th anniversary of the Lamborghini Countach, the Fiat 8V and the Siata 8V.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Ferrari, Concorso Italiano gave recognition to the first Ferrari road car, the two-seat open-top Ferrari 166 MM. Powered by a 2.0-liter V12 engine that produced 140 horsepower, the 166 was really a road-going race car but began the production of Ferrari road cars in addition to race cars.

The 50th anniversary of the 250 GT California Spyder was also celebrated at Concorso Italiano this year. Designed to appeal to the California market and increase Ferrari sales in the U.S., the California Spyder had more power and was available with a lightweight body that also contributed to racing success. The California Spyder was described as a car to be driven with the top open to see and be seen and its appeal continues today as evidenced by two California Spyders that sold at auction in Monterey with one selling for $4.45 million and the other for $4.95 million.

One of the most recognized supercars of all time, the radical and iconic Lamborghini Countach is the first production Countach was on display to commemorate 35 years since the Countach was approved to go into production. In addition to the first production Countach, other owners displayed fine examples of the dramatic supercar.

The newest Lamborghini production car, the Gallardo Superleggera was also on display with more power and lighter weight to push the performance of the Gallardo to a new level. Boasting 530 horsepower, the Gallardo Superleggera is capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph time in only 3.8 seconds.

In 1957 the first series production Maserati, the 3500 GT was introduced and Concorso Italian recognized the 50th anniversary this year of this elegant and stylish grand touring coupe with a number of fine examples on display.

After World War II, Fiat developed a small V8 engine and to distinguish it from Ford and other American V8s, Fiat called the engine 8V. A chassis was developed by Fiat for the engine and Siata also developed a chassis. The Fiat 8V and Siata 8V were featured this year at Concorso Italiano.