With great cars, an international auction house and a diverse swap meet, Padova Auto e Moto d’Epoca has become one of the must-see events for European classic car lovers.
Did we fail to mention the food? Here’s a snapshot of the best of Padova (Padua in English):
Best Tripling-Down on a Niche Market: This vendor decided that there are not nearly enough silver Maserati Mistrals in the world (we agree) and presented three-in-a-row.
Best Manufacturer Stand: Citroen embraced 1960’s French culture with a retro display focusing on its past.
Best Car We All Once Hated: Who could have imagined a green-on-green Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC would capture our imagination?
Best Car We All Once Hated II: It took a while for everyone to warm to Marcello Gandini’s wedge design, but the Ferrari Dino GT4 is undeniably stunning with European bumpers and in any color except red.
Best Modern Car Display: Italian’s love passionate design, and nothing spoke to their hearts like the Pagani Zonda – even if it does have a Mercedes powerplant.
Best Limited Production Car: Precious little information exists about the Pettenella Leontina, a faithful replica of the pre-war Alfa Romeo 6C 1750. An estimated 14 examples were made in the early 1970s by the San Leo-based carrozzeria, and outward appearances would fool all but the most ardent Alfa experts. A collectible car in its own right at a fraction of the cost of the real thing.
Best Movie Car: This Alfa Romeo 6cb2500 Cabriolet was an evocative co-star, appearing alongside Academy Award-winning actress Maggie Smith in HBO Film’s “My House in Umbria.”
Best Restoration-In-Progress: Lots of contenders here, but the correct details of this Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce won the day for us.
Best Whatzit: We can only assume that someday this Ferrari 250 GTE will be restored, but the clearcoat paint over rust and the modern wheels took us aback for a moment.
Best Lancia: A faithful reproduction of one of the Zagato-bodied Fulvia Competizione HF cars that competed successfully at Daytona.
Best Iconoclast: Oddly compelling, this Iso Rivolta GT 300 was apparently ordered with electric green paint, a black vinyl top, brown velour interior, and a driver’s-side spotlight. We’d love to meet the original owner, as there’s sure to be an interesting personality behind it all.
Best Product Placement: Borrani Wheels fitted their new line of Turbo Sport bimetal knock-off wheels to an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint in the outside lot.
Best Diorama: A forlorn Lancia Appia in a barn-find setting at a club display.
Best Service Car Display: Polizia manned their popular annual display with the infamous Squadra Pantera Ferrari 250 GTE police pursuit car.
Best Classic Car Overall: Achingly beautiful and graceful beyond reproach, everything we love about vintage Italian cars was embodied in the 1955 Maserati A6G/54 Allemano Coupe at the Maserati Classiche stand.
