VILLA D'ESTE STYLE 2016
Saturday 16 April 2016
'Villa La Massa' is a supremely luxurious hotel hidden in the countryside just out of Firenze, near Bagno a Ripoli. It is also the 'sister' in Toscana of The Grand Hotel Villa d'Este in Cernobbio, one of the best hotels in the worlds and the best scenario in the world for supreme classic cars. The 'Concorso d'Eleganza', held in VdE every year at the end of May, is the most refined event of this type in the whole world; the 'Villa d'Este Style' event is quite different. It aims to celebrate this revered name reuniting as many examples of this beautiful Touring design as possible. It is organized every year (in 2016 it was Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 April) by Villa d'Este itself and this year the meeting was arranged in Villa La Massa, to enjoy a nice tour of the countryside and the luxurious surroundings of this classic hotel
Reaching the programmed destination, being this the maiden voyage of a freshly-restored, 63-years-old classic car, is a relief
Mr. Fontana, the owner of both Villa d'Este and Villa la Massa, is the inspirator and main supporter of the 'Villa d'Este Style' events. Here he is with his lovely wife Simona
The classic elegance of the Villa d'Este coupés is evident from all sides
The side view of this Alfa Romeo shows the elegance of its taut, sporty line; it is rightly considered one of the masterworks of Felice Bianchi Anderloni
Hans Ribben's splendid Villa d'Este. This is the best color that you can paint this wonderful carrozzeria
Classic Alfa Romeo are a joy to the eye, and this time there was also a splendid 6C 2300 Touring Berlinetta.....
Dr. Marco Makaus is the Project Leader of the 'Villa d'Este Style' events (amongst other things). Knowing his good taste and experience, it's small wonder that these events are so well-sorted and elegant
The 19th Hole
After the journey, a good Martini cocktail is welcome, but it must be good. Marco and I share some precise ideas about what a Martini cocktail has to be and how it has to served: the Villa la Massa bartender was up to the task. He mixed a very good, dry cocktail based on the classic Bombay gin, and offered on the side several excellent appetizers. The Martini was extremely good and the service at the bar, like in every other section of this hotel, was impeccable
Sunday 17 April
The beautiful Villa offers a splendid background for some pictures of the 403
If you drive a classic Bristol, the camera bag for your big reflex cannot be a crude black nylon affair. Anna shows that a custom-made, vintage Nikon item in natural leather is a must for elegant travellers
Same hubcaps, different badges on the original 403 wheels
Finishing touch: this 403 was sold to its second owner by a famous 'engaging old rogue....'
Before departing for Firenze and then Bologna, it is necessary to check the levels. Motor oil, in a 6-cylinders Bristol, can only be Castrol's finest
GaetanoDe Rosa, great car guy and the organizer of the splendid Vernasca hillclimb, suitably puzzled by the 403
The view from the passenger's side as we drive to Bologna along the new 'Variante' of the classic A1 Autostrada. Shorter and less challenging than the old one, so it's better for classic cars as well
We started from our house in Bologna at 4,30 p.m. of Saturday, the odometer showing 128 miles....
....and 275 miles when I parked the 403 in the garage Sunday afternoon
SUMMARY
The Bologna-Villa la Massa-Bologna trip was 147 miles, the first trip of the restored 403; also the components that were a little reluctant to work (voltmeter, petrol gauge) have slowly awakend from their long sleep and are doing their job. It's way too early to say how much does the 403 needs in terms of petrol or oil, but it goes well and this is enough for now.....
