You will feel welcome here.
All photos and information courtesy Jonathan Sharp
Auto Moto d’Epoca, now held annually at the Bologna Fiere, is a vast show and so easy to get to. Quick flight to Bologna, 10 minute train ride on the Marconi express to Bologna railway station then the number 35 bus to the Fiere. Easy peasy but I just wish the big UK budget airline with the bright orange planes still flew to Bologna from my local airport near Brighton, much nicer than Heathrow.
This year the show (October 22-25) occupied 13 halls amounting to 235,000 square metres of space, plus at least three outside parking areas which also contained many a classic car complete with a home-made for sale sign in the window.
The organizers try to make the visitors lives much easier by dividing the show up into four individual ‘routes’ you can follow, allowing you to bypass parts that did not interest you. The halls marked with a blue sign listed as Tre Cultura e Passione, (where culture meets passion) featured displays by car clubs, teams and registers, manufactures, museums and institutions. Those marked in green listed as Percorso Ricambi Modelismo e automobilia contained spare parts (lots), models and automobilia. The halls marked in red, Percorso Commerciant e Restauratori Auto, contained car dealers and restorers, and the halls marked in yellow, Percorso Moto, contained all things motorcycle. In addition the central atrium featured a display with a title of Icons of Speed which I will feature in part two. So with 13 halls, you will probably need at least two days to cover it all and as to the selection of onsite catering, well this is Italy and they know how to eat well so you are spoiled for choice.
In this Part 1 of our three part feature (two this week and trucks to come later), your Editor has pulled rank and chose his favorite cars regardless of whatever.
Sharp:”Sorry I have no idea what is going on here, perhaps they call it art! Or maybe it is just to show you that this Porsche 356 has a sunroof.” The editor: “Is that why they call it a bathtub Porsche?”
Lancia Hyena Zagato based around a Delta Integrale.
1950 Fiat Derby with coachwork by Bertone, one of just two examples constructed.
1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Super which featured a lightweight body and the 1600cc twin cam motor, one of only 501 examples built.
Designed by Mario Revelli de Beaumont, this beautiful 1940 Fiat 6C 1500 recently won best of show at the 2026 ASI Fest at Misano.
Designed by Mario Revelli de Beaumont, 1940 Fiat 6C 1500.
1940 Fiat 6C 1500 dash.
1949 Fiat Patriarca 750, ex-1950 Mille Miglia.
1951 Vignale bodied Ferrari 212/225 S Export Berlinetta chassis 0190ED.
1949 Cisitalia 202 Berlinetta.
A Cisitalia from another era, 1960 Abarth 850 Riviera Spider Cisitalia with coachwork by Allemano.
Riviera dash
1965 Fiat 1200 OSI S Spider, Designed by Giovanni Michelotti and built in Turin to the tune of about 280 units.
Never seen one let alone read about one, listed by the seller as a 1954 Fiat 1100 ‘Spasso’. Typical of the gems you find tucked away at the show.
No, not a Studebaker but a 1950 Fiat 1100 E Vittoria with coachwork by Balbo.
Balbo dash
Listed by the vendor as a 1940 Siata Super Testa 500, ex Millie Miglia 1940 and 1994.
Siata rear
Another Fiat bodied by Balbo, in this instance a 1949 Fuoriserie 1500 6 cylinder Balbo Cabriolet.
When I first spotted this from a distance I thought, hmm a Renault 15, but I pinged over a photo to Gary Axon and I understand this is a Moretti 1000 Coupe based either on a Fiat 127 or 128.
Moretti rear
1962 Maserati 5000 GT by Pietro Frua, Of the 34 5000GTs built, only three carried coachwork by Frua. This example, complete with an in-dash mount record player was originally owned by the Aga Khan IV.
1962 Maserati 5000 GT by Pietro Frua,
1962 Maserati 5000 GT by Pietro Frua, with record player.
This is the 1929 Alphi T10 Grand Prix car built by Automobiles du Luart, Poniatowski Hougardy, Ingenieurs to compete in the 1929 Grand Prix de l’ACF which was to be held at Le Mans that year. Under the bonnet is a 1485cc CIME six cylinder engine complete with a large Cozette supercharger. Shown on the race entry list to be driven by Edouard Brisson ultimately the car failed to make the start.
1929 Alphi T10
Alphi dash
Alphi motor
There are always several cars at the show that you have never seen before. Case in point, this is a Covini C6W, an Italian sportscar perhaps inspired by the Tyrell P34 Grand Prix car. I understand the project was started in the 1980s but stalled due to a lack of funds. It was resurrected in 2003 and first shown in 2004. Power is provided, it is said, by a 4.2 V8 tuned to 500 bhp.
On the ASI stand featuring three cars from the ‘Collezione ASI Bertone, the 1984 Chevrolet Corvette Ramarro.
1984 Chevrolet Corvette Ramarro.
The 2003 Bertone Birusa, designed by Giuliano Biasio around the power train of a BMW Z8.
The 2007 Bertone Fiat Barchetta Concept, a two seater roadster built to celebrate the company’s 95th anniversary and inspired by Nuccio Bertone’s own 1947 racing Barchetta. It was built around the floor plan and mechanics of a Fiat Panda 100HP.
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