The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, held on the shore of Lake Como in Italy, is heralded as the world's most traditional beauty contest for historic cars. In the 16th century, Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio had a palace designed to serve as his private residence; in 1873, it became one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, the Villa D'Este. The hotel has been hosting the Concorso d'Eleganza since 1929, with the majestic Villa d'Este palace, gardens in the style of the Italian Renaissance, and the glittering waters of Lake Como serving as a stunning backdrop for the exceptional automobiles on display.

At the culmination of the three-day festival this past May, an international jury of experts selected a 1937 Bugatti 57 S, owned by Andrew Pisker of Monaco, as the overall winner out of a field of 51 outstanding classic cars from different eras of automobile history.

With seven different classes on display, the Bugatti Type 57S competed in class A, 'The Golden Age of Elegance: The Art Deco Era of Motor Car Design.' The technical excellence comes from Bugatti, while the elegant convertible body is the work of Vanvooren, based in Courbevoie in the suburbs of Paris. The convertible still makes an impression nowadays with its proportions and clear lines. It is the first of just four Bugatti Type 57S cars built with a Vanvooren convertible body. One of its previous ten owners, a Vice President of General Motors, swapped the Bugatti inline eight-cylinder powerhouse for a Buick V8 for test purposes. Following some extensive research, the original straight eight cylinder engine – which had been lost for over 40 years – was found via an Internet search, a true modern-day miracle.

Alongside the Type 57S in class A was a rare Bugatti Type 59 Sports race car from 1934 and a Type 57C Stelvio Cabriolet with Gangloff bodywork from 1937. Having served as a factory race car in 1934 and 1935, the Type 59 Sports was converted into a sports car and successfully competed in races until 1937. It only had five owners, one of which was King Leopold III of Belgium in the 1930s. This vehicle now counts among the most significant racing Bugattis and is widely admired for its originality. The Type 59 was awarded the FIVA Trophy for Best Preserved Pre-War Car.

In the 'Concept Cars and Prototypes class, the new Bugatti Bolide¹ starred as one of seven prototypes on display, winning the coveted Design Award of the class. Bolide answers the question of what a Bugatti would look like if it was stripped back to its cutting-edge essentials and based around the iconic 8.0-liter W16 engine. After the concept was unveiled in 2020, the desire from customers worldwide was so strong that Bugatti decided to produce a small production series of 40 units of the Bolide, which immediately sold out.

"The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este is one of the most beautiful and significant events in the world of classic cars and luxury sports cars," said Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles. "We are humbled that a Bugatti vehicle should win the prestigious 'Best of Show' Award among such renowned competition."

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