Concorso Italiano revs up for Monterey Car Week 2011

(PR NewsChannel) / July 19, 2011 / MONTEREY, Calif.

Credit: (C) Frank Cunningham www.allcarcentral.com

This August 19, Concorso Italiano will again kick off the traditional Monterey-PebbleBeach weekend portion of the internationally-famed Monterey Car Week festivities. The 26th Concorso is an annual celebration of Italian vehicles and style featuring everything great from Italy including cars, fashion, food and wine in an elegant setting on the greens at the Laguna Seca Golf Ranch.

Most Italian marques will be represented with close to 1,000 cars and motorcycles of Italian origin on display at this year’s event with upwards of $100-million worth of classic and newer vehicles. You’ll also find exciting exhibits of the latest super-cars from Italy, including Lamborghini, Maserati and Ferrari.

While every Ferrari is special, some Ferraris are more special, and one of the very special ones will be honored in the Concorso’s annual reunion series. In 2009, the Concorso celebrated the 288 GTO, resulting in a world record gathering of 288 GTO. Last year, the F40 was honored with a special reunion. For 2011, the limited production F50 will take the honors at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch.

This year’s centerpiece features over 20 hand picked pre-1974 all-original and barn-find cars, including the 1952 Ferrari Barchetta that Enzo Ferrari gave to Henry Ford II. This car was the inspiration for several design features on the 1955 Ford Thunderbirds as manufactured by Ford (NYSE:F). Additionally, a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, 1955 Fiat Vignale 8V and a 1955 Alfa Romeo CSS Zagato that competed in Mille Miglia will be in the display.

“Concorso Italiano has a long history of recognizing great Italian cars as they are. Our qualifications are simple: Just wash it, and bring it,” the organizers say. To qualify for this year’s Centerpiece Display, a car must have 80 percent or more of its original paint, as well as original chrome and interior upholstery and carpeting.

Credit: (C) Andrew Jones

The Concorso will also be celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Maserati Ghibli plus the 40th anniversaries of the DeTomaso Pantera and Maserati Bora. For the first time, the Concorso offers the Black & White Showcase, a display of exotic Italian cars that are either black over black or white over white.

“Concorso Italiano is a unique event that brings together an amazing collection of vehicles and enthusiasts who are truly passionate about Italian design and heritage,” said Laura Soave, head of Fiat Brand North America. “With more than a century of history in which we have produced global icons such as the Cinquecento, Fiat is a proud sponsor of the Concorso Italiano, and we hope to build a relationship with all of these enthusiasts as the brand makes its way back to North America.”

As the presenting sponsor of the annual Concorso, Fiat North America will display the Fiat 500 as well as present the award to the vehicle selected as “Best in Show.” A number of classic Fiat 500 vehicles, brought by the attendees, will also be on display.

Concorso patrons will be able to enjoy the ‘Fiat Mobile Experience’ – a unique display that hosts both a café station and a Fiat brand merchandise store. Fiat fans will be able to enjoy complimentary gelato, espresso and cappuccino, served by baristas, while browsing through various Fiat-branded merchandise, housed in a unique store setting that is finished in Fiat red and white colors and staffed by merchandising specialists.

Corporate and dealer displays at the Concorso will include Maserati, Lamborghini and Ferrari. Several key factory representatives from Maserati, Lamborghini, Pininfarina and Zagato will be on hand to support the event including longtime Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni. Lamborghini will even have the brand new Aventador on display.

Credit: (C) Daniel Danbom www.danigraph.com

With close to 1,000 classic and exotic Italian cars in this year’s event, the following autos will be exhibited: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, Bizzarrini, Iso and DeTomaso / Pantera. Additionally, Italian motorcycles will be featured plus classic Italian bicycles will be displayed for the first time at the Concorso.

Besides the beautiful cars and displays, there will be an array of local wine and continental cuisine plus an exclusive mid-day fashion show that is always a huge hit. The featured wines are from Chateau Julien Wine Estates in Carmel Valley and the Heck Estates portfolio including their Pininfarina Napa Valley Vino Rosso.

The 2011 Concorso Italiano at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch is not to be missed if you enjoy Italian cars, fashion or design. It will be a real treat!