The sixth edition of the “Città di Trieste” Concours d’Elegance and Sportivity concluded in the monumental setting of Piazza Unità d’Italia, transformed for an entire weekend into an open-air stage dedicated to the culture of the classic automobile.
Organized by Automobile Club d’Italia and ACI Storico, with the collaboration of AC Trieste and AAVS – Associazione Amatori Veicoli Storici (Association of Historic Vehicle Lovers), the event brought a selection of highly prestigious vehicles to the heart of the Julian capital, united under the guiding theme of the 2026 edition: “The Style of Speed .” This theme explores the evolution of automotive design through forms, proportions, and technical solutions born from the pursuit of performance.
The 1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Villa d’Este Carrozzeria Touring , a true masterpiece of postwar Italian elegance, won the most coveted award, Best of Show . This highly symbolic verdict comes in the year that marks the centenary of Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, one of the most refined and influential brands in Italian automotive history.
The 6C 2500 SS Villa d’Este represents one of the finest expressions of Italian design: harmonious proportions, handcrafted bodywork, and refined mechanics, capable of combining performance and distinction. Its victory confirms Alfa Romeo’s central role in the history of international grand touring and honors a model that, even today, retains the allure of the great custom-built cars of the twentieth century.
Alongside the overall prize, the public awarded the Coppa Città di Trieste to the 1954 Triumph TR2 , chosen by spectators in Piazza Unità d’Italia through voting. This recognition underscored the direct connection between the event and the city, making the public an integral part of the competition.
The international jury, chaired by Marco Makaus and composed of leading figures in the world of classic motoring and collecting, evaluated the competing cars based on criteria of elegance, authenticity, historical relevance, and consistency with the theme of the edition. Jurors also included Donald Osborne, Lorenzo Marzullo, Laura Kukuk, and Bernard Marreyt.
The list of winners has seen some of the most representative cars on the international historic scene win in their respective classes. In the category up to 1945, success went to the 1934 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 GT Cabriolet Royal Carrozzeria Castagna ; in the 1946-1959 class to the same Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Villa d’Este ; among the cars from 1960 to 1974, to the 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400 S ; while in the 1975-1989 class, the 1977 Lancia Stratos stood out .
The event once again confirmed the strength of the Trieste format, combining a static display, parade, public participation, and the culture of historic motoring. Piazza Unità d’Italia, overlooking the Adriatic, offered a unique setting to showcase cars that are not just collector’s items, but living testaments to ingenuity, style, and passion.
Completing the weekend was the presence of the Mitteleuropean Race , a superclassic regularity race included in the ACI Sport Italian Major Events Calendar, which accompanied the competition, creating a natural dialogue between elegance, sportiness and tradition.