Vanhoolandt at Villa d’Este, 2011

Franco Scaglione created the stunning body of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, when Carlo Chiti was responsible for its engine. This car took the Best in Show by the Jury award.

The 3500 GT began an era of quantity production for Maserati and gave the firm the stability it has lacked during its early history.

This 1961 Maserati Tipo 63 “Birdcage”, sold new to Briggs Cunningham, is the best ever placed Maserati at Le Mans with 4th place in 1961.

The Coppa d’Oro (best of show by public referendum) went to the 1942 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS coupé Bertone owned by renown Italian collector Corrado Lopresto.

The Fiat 8V, or “Ottovu”, was named from its unusual 2 litre V8 engine. 114 units were built and only 34 with this body, called Rapi, by the name of its designer, Fabio Rapi.

Using the Fiat 8V engine, but even rarer, is this Siata with Balbo body. Owned by Jan De Reu from Belgium, it won best in class D for ‘small cars with big performance’.

In the same class, equipped with a 1089cc engine producing 83 bhp, was this 1950 Abarth 205 berlinetta Vignale, the second of only 3 built.

1966 Abarth 1300 OT, for Omologato Turismo, developing 147 bhp, was built in fiberglass by Sibona and Basano.

The Ferrari 375 America, introduced at the 1953 Paris Salon, was intended for the richest customers of the time. Most of the 375 America were clothed by Pinin Farina, as the example shown here.

Also equipped with a 375 Lampredi designed engine, this Ferrari 375 MM spider Pinin Farina spent most of its life racing on the US circuits.

Based on the Alfa Romeo 2000 platform, this proposition from Touring for a coupe called the Praho remained a one-off.

Another Tipo 33 of 1968, in its racing form this time, developing near 300 bhp.

This Delage D8 105 S of 1935 is the sole survivor of four examples produced by French coachbuilder Autobineau. It is now owned by Alex Vazeos and earned Mention of Honor in its class.

2010 Best of Show at Pebble Beach, the Delage D8 S roadster by de Villars was in its element on the shores of Lake Como.

Spectacular 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 GS coupé by Saoutchik was one of the world’s most powerful production car of its time.

Talbot-Lago T23 coupé Royal by Figoni & Falaschi, owned by Joseph Cantore from USA, won the class A ‘closed for comfort’ award.

Peter Mullin brought to Villa d’Este this 1951 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport cabriolet bodied by Stabilimenti Farina.

Based on the Citroen SM coupe, the SM Opera limousine was built by French coachbuilder Chapron to special order. Only eight examples are believed to have been built.

The Renault DeZir is an electric powered coupé showing the brand’s future front-end styling identity and destined to prove that electric cars can also be attractive and exciting.

Each year, Villa d’Este is the setting for the unveil of a new one-off Ferrari. This year sees the debut of Peter Kalikow’s new toy, based on the 599 GTB Fiorano and called the Super America 45.

Following the Ferrari P4/5 specially built for James Glickenhaus by Pininfarina, here is the racing version, called Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus P4/5, which is due to take part to the famous Nürburgring 24 hours at the end of June.

It’s a British car but with strong Italian link. To celebrate 50 years of association, Aston Martin and Zagato presented the V12 Zagato, based on the V12 Vantage. A small production run is planned.