Simply Italian at Beaulieu National Motor Museum

Story and photos by Gary Axon

Given the extreme summer heat enjoyed at the last Beaulieu ‘Simply’ event we reported on here back in June (exclusively for French cars), plus the dry, sunny and hugely successful International Autojumble – held just a fortnight before the 2026 edition of The National Motor Museum’s ‘Simply Italian’ meeting for vehicles hailing from Italy (September 27)- this year’s changeable weather put a little damper on things, although at least it didn’t pour down all day unlike the 2025 Simply Italian!

Most of the hundreds of attendees to late September’s Simply Italian arrived in bright sunshine, although a short but heavy downpour saw a few of the less hardy Italian car owners make an early exit. Those that remained, however, were rewarded with fine sunshine and a fun, laid back atmosphere with plenty of Ferraris, Fiats, Alfa Romeos, Lancias and Abarths to admire, joined by the occasional Maserati and Lamborghini.

The sizeable Ferrari contingent at Beaulieu consisted mostly of more recent Maranello models, such an impressive new 849 Testarossa, 12 Cilindri and a few 296s, joined by older 328s, 348s, Testarossas, Californias, etc, with a spotless 1961 250 GTE Series 3 attracting many admiring glances.

The Maranello exotica were joined by a handful of modern-era Maserati GTs and Quattroportes and Lamborghinis. Representing the more mainstream Italian automobiles were a wide variety of Fiats, Alfa Romeos, Lancias and Abarths, plus the odd Lambretta moped and Ducati superbike. Fiat 500s, old and new, were out in force with standouts being including a Topolino and charming Giardinera. A row of mostly Polish-built 126s represented the later rear-engined Fiats, along with many Pandas (including a Giannini-tuned Turbo), Unos, Puntos, Stradas, Tipos, Stilos, modern-era Abarths, plus Coupes and Barchettas, with an early 124 Coupe creating much interest. Few if any had any placards or further identification of the car or owners.

Many Alfa Romeos and Lancias rubbed fenders, randomly scattered around the large Beaulieu ‘Simply’ site, with standout cars including a beautiful Lancia Flaminia Coupe by Pininfarina, a pair of scarce Fulvia Berlinas (series 1 and 2), a rare 1990s Kappa Coupe, a Y10 Turbo, rows of Beta Monte Carlos, plus some exceptional 101 and 105-Series Alfa Romeo berlinas, coupes and spiders, in addition to countless other great Alfas.

The end of an enjoyable day out culminated in the People’s Choice Top Award going to a Fiat 500 Topolino, with the 1961 Ferrari 250 GTE taking second prize and third going to a dark blue Fiat New 500 in Italian police Carabinieri specification (including the car’s owner in full uniform)!

Event website here: https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/simply-italian/

Editor’s Note: We can identify some of the cars all of the time, we can identify all of the cars some of the time, but it’s hell to identify all of the cars all of the time…