How to See 5,000 Historic Vehicles in Three Days

Images: Jon Papadhimtri & Gautam Sen

The 41st Auto e Moto d’Epoca, held for the second time in Bologna, marked a successful gathering for classic and vintage car and motorcycle enthusiasts, reflecting the market's ongoing revival.

Guess the car on the left as we take a look at all the rarity at the Bologna fair - with a coachbuilt Lancia convertible at right

The event drew an enthusiastic international crowd, filling the halls of BolognaFiere beyond expectations and surpassing last year’s turnout.

The Simca 1000 Coupé is not as commonplace as a Porsche 911 or a Mercedes-Benz SL

Organisers expressed satisfaction with the fair’s results, noting strong sales and emerging opportunities in a sector that celebrates the enduring appeal of historic vehicles.

Even rarer are these two wonder machines coachbuilt by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, which had a stand at the fair; on the right is one of only two Superleggera OSCA 1600s coachbuilt by Touring, and on the left the only ever OSCA Spider 1050 from 1964, bodied by Touring

"Bologna has experienced growth that exceeded both our and the exhibitors' expectations this year," commented Mario Carlo Baccaglini, the event’s organiser.

A rare Ermini 1100 Sport Siluro racer that competed in the Mille Miglia in 1949

Unlike other European shows, Auto e Moto d’Epoca saw brisk sales, spanning affordable models to rare collector’s items worth millions.

Alfredo Stola explaining the specificity of the Maserati 200S which has been in the family since 1977; from left to right: Alfredo Stola, ASI President Alberto Scuro, FIVA Technical Commission members Jean-François Ruchaud and Michael Georgiakos, FIVA President Tiddo Bresters and FIVA Vice President Technical Commission Laurent Heriou

Gianpiero Calzolari, President of BolognaFiere, emphasised the event’s status as a leading force in the industry.

The car that Marcello Gandini and Stola built in five weeks, the Stola S86 Diamante, showcased by the Morsilli family, who now own the car

Originally hosted in Padua, the fair now attracts thousands of visitors worldwide, enhancing the cultural and tourism appeal of Italy’s Motor Valley.

Another Mercedes 300SL in the making

“Auto e Moto d’Epoca is a factory of dreams and emotions,” Calzolari noted, underscoring the significance of hosting such an event in the heart of Emilia-Romagna.

Aluminium, chrome and leather furniture inspired by the automobile

The Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) curated a broad program of events and tributes, with over 25 sessions dedicated to automotive heritage and Italian icons like Maserati, celebrating its 110th anniversary, and classic cars featured in cinema.

How can any show ever be complete with a Citroën DS somewhere? (above left); The Lancia Aurelia B52 of Gina Lollobrigida (above right); The rare one-off Fiat Turbina from 1948 was one of the stars of the show (bottom left); Arguably one of the most beautiful convertible ever - the Maserati Ghibli Spider (bottom right)

Among the highlights was the ACI Experience, offering a virtual immersion into the metaverse via Apple Vision Pro, which led visitors on a journey with the legendary Triumph TR3A from La Dolce Vita.

Lamborghini's in-house restoration facilities showcased a Miura work-in-progress and a fully restored Diablo

Pavilion 21 also saw tremendous success with the ASI Village, drawing a steady flow of visitors.

The proof that Jawa is back indeed

Alberto Scuro, President of the Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI), celebrated the ASI Village’s popularity and the presentation of the prestigious ASI Award for Historic Motoring to famed driver Arturo Merzario.

The delightful Suzuki Go concept and the Benelli 250 Quattro at the FIVA stand with stand hostess Sara looking on (left); Yours truly trying out the Go for size as Galleries des Damiers' Christophe Pund looks on longingly (right), whilst at the background we have Giuseppe Dell'Aversano and Gian Mario Mollar

“The ASI Village captivated enthusiasts with exhibitions showcasing the best of motoring tourism,” Scuro shared.

The international historic vehicle federation, FIVA, impressed audiences with its display at the ASI Village, featuring notable vehicles like the amphibious Suzuki Go (Bertone Suzuki Go: A Suzuki That Could Swim) by Marcello Gandini and a Benelli 250 Quattro designed by Paolo Martin, both inductees in the FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame.

The fair saw an increase in attendance compared to 2023, including a notable rise in international visitors – a positive sign for a sector drawing new generations, particularly those interested in youngtimers and limited-edition models.

Among the 5,000-odd vehicles displayed, classic Porsches, as well as Italian and European cars from the 1950s, were especially in demand, with roughly a third of the lineup dedicated to Porsches alone.

Meeting with Ilir Mëngra, the Director General of Albania's road transport services (DPSHTRR), which oversees Albania's historic vehicle federation, Retro Albania, as FIVA Technicall Commission Advisor Jean-Francois Ruchaud looks on (left); With team Retro Albania - L to R, Rixhin Qoshja, Meri Lamce, yours truly, Sibora Xhemali and Erald Totri (right)

One of the most captivating aspects of the fair was exploring rare and unusual models from lesser-known Italian coachbuilders and sports car specialists, like Stanguellini, Ermini, and OSCA.

While Auto e Moto d’Epoca might be the largest historic vehicle fair worldwide in terms of size and scale, it still falls short of the exceptional quality and rarity found at Salon Retromobile in Paris. Yet it is worth a visit to see so many of the rarer Italian bolides.