Another incredible event held during the same period as the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este is FuoriConcorso, created by Guglielmo Miani, founder of Larusmiani, an Italian luxury clothing and high-end textile brand. The event took place at Villa del Grumello and Villa Sucota, two splendid villas from the 17th and 19th centuries located on Lake Como.
Upon entering, attendees were greeted by a lineup of various race cars with notable racing histories. A grid walk led to the stunning sight of the famous McLaren F1 GTR adorned in the iconic FINA livery. This particular GTR, which served as a spare car for the team in 1996 and was primarily used for marketing efforts, competed in a trio of non-championship races held in Brazil at the end of the season. Driven by the legendary Nelson Piquet, the car achieved victory in all three events.
Today, the car is part of car collection in Switzerland with an extensive amount of other McLaren F1s and has been reliveried to match the FINA livery worn by GTR 16R at the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans. An almost identical GTR, GTR 17R, resides in the BMW USA collection and frequently appears at enthusiast events.
At the top of the hill, various masterpieces from Sweden were on display. Koenigsegg and Esser Automotive brought an impressive array of cars, including the CCX, Agera R, One:1, Jesko Attack, and Jesko Absolut. Notably, the Jesko Absolut and Jesko Attack Plus made their debut on Autogespot just a few weeks and months ago, both spotted in Germany.
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It's always fascinating to glimpse the future of Koenigsegg. Comparing cars like the CCX to the brand-new Jesko is mindblowing, showcasing the remarkable advancements in technology Koenigsegg has achieved. The CCX, with its analog feel, gated gearbox, numerous cockpit buttons, and pure driving experience, contrasts sharply with the Jesko, which features the latest technological innovations. The Jesko boasts mechanisms for fully automatic opening of doors, hood, and engine cover, as well as a gauge cluster on the steering wheel that self-levels based on the wheel’s position - a testament to cutting-edge engineering.
Esser Automotive took the CCX and Jesko Absolut for a drive to Villa d'Este, creating another incredible highlight. Seeing these two cars on the road was thrilling, especially hearing the roar of the Jesko Absolut's 5.0-liter biturbo V8 engine, which is absolutely insane.
At Villa Sucota, an incredible lineup of Aston Martins was on display, starting with the Valour, an extremely limited edition car celebrating Aston Martin's 110th anniversary. Designed to reconnect driver and machine and evoke the forgotten sensations of the open road, the Valour pays tribute to the golden era of driving, when cars were seductive, wild, and beautiful. Embodying retro-futurism at its finest, the Valour draws inspiration from the timeless designs of legendary Aston Martin race cars of the 1970s, meticulously blending their DNA with a cutting-edge full carbon body for the future.
The DB3S, finished in the instantly recognizable American racing colors of white with a double blue stripe, was originally sold to Joe Lubin. Shortly after taking delivery, Lubin first raced the car at Bakersfield in May 1956. He continued racing it through the end of 1957 with various co-drivers, including a young Richie Ginther, who notably placed DB3S/115 second overall at Pomona in 1957.
At the start of the following year, the car was acquired by Bill de Creeft, who repainted it blue and campaigned it in eight events. In the early 1960s, it passed to Ron Keil, who made several modifications to make it more road-usable. From 1965 until 2008, the DB3S remained in the same collection. It was subsequently restored to its original configuration and raced at several editions of the Goodwood Revival.
Through London-based dealer Fiskens, the car then passed to a German enthusiast, who showcased it at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 2018 and now it was present at FuoriConcorso.
The One-77, the most exclusive Aston Martin of the 'Gaydon era,' was limited to just 77 unique examples. At the 2008 Paris Motor Show, only a few glimpses of the One-77 were revealed, including a view of the front right side showing the fender, headlight, and part of the front bumper, as well as the left side of the rear.
In March 2009, a metallic blue mockup and rolling chassis with the complete powertrain were showcased at the Geneva International Motor Show. By late April 2009, the finished car made its debut at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, where it won the design award for concept cars and prototypes.
And now, in 2024, another One-77 has found its way to Como. To this day, the One-77 continues to leave car enthusiasts in awe whenever one is spotted.
Another highlight on Sunday at FuoriConcorso was the appearance of an Aston Martin Valkyrie at the entrance of Villa Sucota. The car featured a silver paint job as the main color, enhanced with a color-shifting paint that changes shades depending on the weather and lighting. Various parts of the car were highlighted with bright orange accents. It remains mind-blowing that such a race car can be street legal.
Marc Philipp Gemballa showcased the Marsien at the event, presenting the final unit, number 40/40. It is unclear whether Marc Philipp Gemballa has completed production of all 40 units or if owners could select their preferred number. Until now, only a few units have been seen, the most famous being a white one frequently spotted over the past few years. Initially, the Marsien’s plain white paint job did not impress me. However, seeing it in person with a stunning light blue paint job, white wheels, and matte carbon accents on the front end, side skirts, rear end, and side mirrors completely changed my opinion.
The interior, adorned in dark blue carbon fiber, adds another layer of sophistication. The most striking feature is undoubtedly the rear end, inspired by the iconic 959. It would be fascinating to see a 959 next to the Marsien. At first glance, one might think the 959 is much wider, but appearances are deceiving. The Marsien, with a width of 2050 mm, is actually broader than the 959's 1840 mm. The Marsien stands taller at 1450 mm compared to the 959's 1280 mm, creating an optical illusion of width.
Another highlight was definitely the Porsche Green House, where various Porsche parts were combined with flowers. You could see parts like the Carrera badge, Eisenmann exhaust tips, a steering wheel, a 911 Turbo engine cooling fan, and more.
There was also a Taycan with a tent installed on its roof, alongside various color samples, model cars, and car keys displayed in the glass house. Additionally, there were two 992 Turbo S models and since the theme was called Porsche Green House, everything was presented in various shades of green.
Just before arriving at the Alpine House, we were greeted by the incredible Pagani Huayra R. It's still mind-blowing that a masterpiece like a Pagani is also a race car. The Huayra R was finished in dark green and black carbon fiber with various white and red accents. What I especially love about the Huayra R is that it doesn't have turbos; it's naturally aspirated like the Zonda R, bringing back that incredible V12 scream. Hearing that beast on the track, unleashing its 850 hp and 750 Nm of torque at a redline of 9000 rpm, is such a symphony.
At the Alpine House, we were greeted by the AGTZ Twin Tail, Zagato’s tribute to the legendary Alpine A220 race car. Seeing both side by side was stunning. For this special homage to the A220, which competed as both a short- and long-tail endurance racer, Zagato designed a dramatic new body for the A110 sports car. To honor the A220 in the best way possible, it features a removable tail section, allowing each owner to choose between a short- or long-tail configuration.
The A220 was an evolution of the company's A210, featuring a mid-mounted 290-hp 3.0-liter V8. Unfortunately the cars weren’t that successful in competition, but does that really matter now? Just look at that stunning design. This particular example underwent a 20-year restoration from 1984 to 2004 by its previous-owner, former Alpine chassis designer Jean Pierre Buirette. According to William I'Anson Ltd, this is the only Alpine A220 registered for road use. It also comes with a spare gearbox housing and all the body panels necessary to convert it to long-tail specification.
Inside the Alpine House, you could also find a detailed scale model of the AGTZ Twin Tail Zagato, car parts, and a collection of photographs being presented. This combination of elements created an immersive experience, showcasing the brand's storied past and engineering excellence.
Everything together at the FuoriConcorso felt like a vast museum, seamlessly combining the indoor spaces of various villas with their iconic architectural designs and the outdoor spaces, including paths and gardens, with the art and history of the automotive world. We spent several hours walking through the event, admiring the history that each and every car brought with it.
