The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is regarded as the most exclusive and atmospheric gatherings in the entire collector car world — not simply because of the rarity and value of the automobiles on display, but because access itself is tightly curated and layered, bringing together a closed circle of top collectors, designers, and connoisseurs on the shores of Lake Como. Established in 1929, the event is less a conventional show or beauty contest than a carefully orchestrated opera of automotive history, design and desire, where only around fifty highly significant automobiles are selected, each telling a distinct story of innovation, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. In this intimate setting — framed by the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este’s old-world grandeur and the discreet choreography of private previews, juried evaluation, and invitation-only gatherings — the Concorso becomes a benchmark for taste rather than just competition, shaping aesthetic standards and reinforcing its role as a cultural reference point for the entire collector car scene.

In our feature documentary — now available on Classic Driver’s YouTube channel — CEO and renowned concours judge J.P. Rathgen, Creative Director Jan Baedeker, and filmmaker Szymon Adamczyk take you behind the scenes of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Through conversations with event makers and VIP collectors, as well as designers, engineers and owners of some of the world’s most significant automobiles, the film explores what makes this gathering so exceptional — and whether there is an enduring formula for automotive beauty that transcends passing eras and trends.