Villa d'Este 2011 showstoppers

This 1968 supercar with Alfa-red bodywork and diamond-stitch black leather seating won best historic car at the show. Immaculate both inside and out, it’s no surprise.

Awesome one-off aerodynamic bodywork by Bertone, this 1942 black gloss special looks like an elegant Italian take on an American gangster car.

The judging presentation had a 1960s theme for 2011, suitably boosted by the attendance of redhead Christina Hendricks of Mad Men TV fame to help give out the prizes on the first day.

There were plenty of variants of well-known classics from Jaguar E-types to Ferrari 275s at Villa D’este but this show is also remarkable for throwing up rarities from lesser known carmakers like this shapely and super slim 1968 DAF 55 Siluro with Michelotti bodywork.

One of the biggest sales of the auction was the 1938 Talbot-Lago. Unfeasibly swoopy, the classic made almost £2.5m under the hammer.

One of the strangest sights of the weekend was the space-age 1978 Bertone Lancia Sibilo concept following the Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe to the auction arena. The porthole-windowed Sibilo proved a snip at £74,000 before before tax and commission, while the ultra rare Bugatti failed to meet its reserve, despite bids of £1.8m.

Another incredible Bertone concept which led to the Espada production car. The four seater with the massive glass gull-wing doors went for a equally huge hammer price – almost £1m.

Regarded as one of the best concept cars of all time by many leading car designers, the wedge-tastic Lancia Stratos HF Zero went under the RM Auctions’ hammer for nearly £600,000. 

High-end car sales specialists RM Auctions’ first ever event at the show made headlines for a super rare selection of classic cars including six Bertone concept cars from the 1960s to 80s. High-end car sales specialists RM Auctions’ first ever event at the show made headlines for a super rare selection of classic cars including six Bertone concept cars from the 1960s to 80s.

The third modern unveil celebrating an anniversary was the Ferrari Superamerica 45 one-off. Built for New York collector Peter Kalikow the 45 is a mix of GTO racing skills, Aperta driving comfort and a 575-style flip-over style hardtop and celebrates 45 years since Kalilkow’s first Ferrari.  

Auto Express knew about this global unveil a few days before the event but seeing the limited edition race car in the metal was something special. According to Aston’s design director Marek Reichman the British car – made in association with Italian design firm Zagato to celebrate 50 years since the DB4 Zagato – will be produced in very limited numbers of road and race editions but don’t expect much change from £500,000 if you fancy one.

Event sponsor BMW pulled off a real surprise when it drove its 328 Hommage concept – a carbon fibre-bodied 21st century roadster paying tribute to the late 1930s 328 coupe – onto the famous Italian lawns of Villa D’este as BMW Group design boss Adrian van Hooydonk played master of ceremonies.