Nashville, TN: Highlights of Viva Italia Concours D’Elegance
Yesterday was the Nashville Viva Italia Concours D’Elegance. Which is basically just a fancy way of saying that there were rare Italian vehicles, a classically trained singer, and a guy selling pizza. While th singer was pretty good and I was too cheap to try the pizza, the cars were simply stunning. The majority were Ferraris, which is never a bad thing, but there was a good showing from Alfa Romeo and Maserati, as well as a single Lancia, and a single Lamborghini. Here were my top five picks.
Yesterday was the Nashville Viva Italia Concours D’Elegance. Which is basically just a fancy way of saying that there were rare Italian vehicles, a classically trained singer, and a guy selling pizza. While the singer was pretty good and I was too cheap to try the pizza, the cars were simply stunning. The majority were Ferraris, which are never a bad thing, but there was a good showing from Alfa Romeo and Maserati, as well as a single Lancia, and a single Lamborghini. My top five after the jump.
5. Lancia Fulvia Zagato
The Lancia Fulvia was ahead of its time both technologically and stylistically. A sporty little Italian 2+2 with a body designed by Zagato and a hatch for practicality. That sounds more or less how I would describe the ideal day to day car today. Sadly, this car is both old and Italian, and therefore has probably been repaired twice since I last saw it… yesterday. You just have to love that colour and the way the hood opens too.
4. Ferrari 599
With its 12 cylinders, 611 horses, 3.7 second 0-60, and Pininfarina looks, I love the 599. While this isn’t a classic yet, the 599 is both the archetype of Pininfarina’s current design style for Ferrari and Maserati, and an absolute track monster. What it all really comes down to is the “flying buttresses,” which at first appear to be the c-pillar. It is such an elegant way to increase airflow to the lip spoiler. If those were on a Yugo 65 I’d want one of those too.
3. Ferrari Testarossa
There were actually two Testarossas at the event, but I decided my favourite of the two was the one in slightly worse condition. Why? Because it’s not yellow. Not only do I usually hate yellow cars, but black paint just shows off the Testarossa’s lines so well, there is really not other option worth considering, except of course the classic scarlet.
2. Ferrari Dino 206 GT
A gorgeous curvy targa-top Ferrari with a tiny 2.0l V6 serving as a power-plant. All in all, this is a stunning car. I honestly thought that Ferrari would create another Dino. A small, ultra-light, cheaper less expensive Fezza with a smaller engine could be some sort of super Lotus. The California doesn’t count, that’s more of a super Mercedes SLK.
1. Lamborghini 350GT
Here is a car that just oozes passion. The first Lambo was born out of a classically Italian vendetta against Enzo Ferrari. Ferruccio Lamborghini made tractors out of old military parts, and owned a Ferrari, which had clutch problems. When he took it to Maranello, Enzo simply told him that “the problem was not with the car.” Being insane, Ferruccio went home and decided to stop making tractors and start making sports cars. The first one to hit the market was the 350GT of which 120 were sold. This is one of them.
Twitter
Tumblr
YouTube
5 Comments
I did a little research into used prices for the Dino and I couldn’t believe it! I know that it’s a good-looking vehicle, really I do, but 100k for one? You can get a 355 for half that without even trying. But maybe that just makes the 355 the best deal around for a Fezza… Shhhh
your comments on the Lancia Fulvia Zagato were very positiv e until you started with the drivel about reiability of this car and Italian cars in general; we owned two Lancia Fulvias in the late 60s and the 70s and they were very reliable cars provided they had their regular maintenance. With twin overhard cams, a V4 aluminium engine, two twin choke Solex carburetors, they were not your run of the mill car. New italian cars are as reliable if not more so than any German brand. I only have driven Lancias all my adult life and they have never ever immobilised me (other than a dead battery). I now drive a Lancia which is over 9 years old with 215K kms, 2.0 litre, 5-cylinder petrol engine; it’s running like a dream and up to now has been utterly reliable. The only things that have had to be replaced other than timing belt/water pump (required maintenance) have been a small switch for a heated front passenger seat and some components for the electric window mechanism on the driver side. That’s all! So please start thinking differently about Italian cars
Hey I love Italian cars, but the people I have known who have owned them had strong, personal relationships with their wrenches. Just saying…
Hi Stirling, Okay well I possibly don’t feel quite as strongly as philipd (no relation by the way) but I can understand why he would be so passionate about your tongue in cheek comment about Italian cars, especially when it comes to the superb engineering and reliability of the Lancia Fulvia. You are not wrong about the often quite deserved perception people have of many Italian cars (Fix It Again Tony etc.) but I have owned a Lancia Fulviasport Zagato 1.3S for about 15 years and it has been the most reliable and enjoyable “old” sports car I have owned – which is probably why I still have it. That and the fact it is really great to drive. It has been properly maintained and well looked after all its life (including by the 2 previous owners it had since 1969) and as a result it’s still running on the original motor at well over 120,000 miles. I know of some in Australia that have done more than 200k on the original engine too. The car in the photo seems to have the even rarer 1600 motor which makes it very highly sought after, and it looks to be in excellent condition, so I think its owner knows exactly what he has, looks after it, and is unlikely to have any mechanical issues with it at all. Lancia’s (at least those that pre-date Fiats ownership of the brand) should be viewed in a very different light from most Italian cars when it comes to superb engineering and longevity. Anyway, I love seeing pics of Zagato’s on the web – thank you for the great photos!
that testarossa had 8 exaust pipes just a thought i think its way too mony