ONE LAKE, ONE CAR.
A celebration of the Alfa Romeo 6C family.
In the Villa d’Este style.
With photography by Luca Danilo Orsi.
Nestled within the serene beauty of Lake Como lies an exclusive event that pays tribute to automotive excellence - the annual gathering honouring the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Touring "Villa d'Este." Organised this year collaboration with RIAR - Italian Alfa Romeo Registry ( oldest Alfa registry in the world, also hosting the Real Alfa event) and the International 6C 2500 Registry, this exclusive raduno takes place within the grounds of the hotel that shares its name with one of Alfa Romeo's most iconic creations - Villa ‘d’Este.
The star of the show, the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Touring "Villa d'Este," represents a long gone romantic of automotive history era, contemporary with the times when Alfa Romeo's reigned supreme in the world of sports and luxury cars, just as it was starting transitioning from a high end, manual production to more industrialised products. Produced between 1949 and 1952, with only around twenty surviving examples out of the original 32, this masterpiece embodies the essence of Italian craftsmanship and automotive artistry.
This year the “Villa d’Este Style” event opens up: the 6C 2500 SS Touring "Villa d'Este" takes center stage, but alongside came other magnificent Alfa Romeo 6Cs. Together, they offer perhaps the most representative examples of the rich history of the 6C model, known for its iconic six-cylinder engines - hence the name 6C - in a myriad of body styles and different design interpretations by the most fabled Italian (and not only) coachbuilding houses of that era.
Accompanying the gray beauty (chassis number #915916) owned by the hotel, four other 6C 2500 SS Villa d'Este models graced the event: a sleek black example(#915884), an elegant burgundy (#915890), a vibrant blue (#915899), and an exceedingly rare dark blue (#915892), featuring a unique single side window - one of only two such cars in existence.
In addition to these stunning Villa d'Este examples, a diverse array of Alfa Romeo classics made their presence felt. Among them there was a 6C 1750 GS (chassis #8513078) that had been retrofitted by Castagna in 1934, adding an extra touch of vintage charm to the gathering, as the oldest car present.
Representing the 2300 B series were two exceptional cars: a Berlinetta Pescara Touring (#813915) and the exquisite barchetta Mille Miglia (chassis #815001), once owned and driven by Franco Cortese of the Scuderia Ambrosiana.
Adding a racing flair to the event was a "torpedo" style car (chassis #915088), its bodywork reimagined in recent years with design cues inspired by the legendary 8C 2900.
Lining the picturesque lakeside were three exquisite Pininfarina Cabriolets—an elegant blue first series (#91559), a fiery red second series (#915744), and a sophisticated gray third series Sport (#915399).
Not to be forgotten were two "Freccia d'Oro" or "gobbone" models in distinctive green hues. The first was a pioneering production with a unique square instrumentation (#915448), while the second, in sleek black (#916071), was crafted directly by Alfa Romeo at Portello. Yet another rare gem on display was the 6C 2500 SS (#915586) boasting a "pontoon" Touring coupé body, showcasing the diverse craftsmanship of the era.
To conclude the captivating 6C saga, a stately black Pinin Farina 4-door Berlina (#917150) stood alongside one of the final 6Cs produced at Portello in 1952—an imposing black 2-door GT Berlina (#918031).
After guests enjoyed the exquisite gardens of the hotel, the event's host and passionate historian, Marco Makaus, took center stage. With his profound knowledge of the brand, Makaus delivered an engaging thematic conference. The topic? The intriguing use of powerful and sophisticated Alfa Romeo Grand Prix engines in motorboat racing and record-breaking, some of which found fame on the very waters that grace Lake Como. But that in itself will be a captivating subject for another tale - one that we eagerly await to share with you sometime in the future.
Until then, enjoy the images of these splendid Alfa Romeos and just try and imagine the fresh air on the shores of Lake Como filled with the echoes of their finely-tuned 6 cylinder engines, just waiting to embark on their next timeless journey…
