At Padova Classic Cars & Motorcycles – Yesterday’s and Today’s Legends

Eleven pavilions spread across ninety thousand square meters of exhibition space. Sixteen hundred exhibitors, five thousand vehicles, and at least 120,000 visitors. These are the figures for the 36th edition—running until October 27 at the Padova Exhibition Center—of what is widely regarded as Italy’s leading classic-vehicle event and one of Europe’s most prestigious. “Auto e Moto d’Epoca” brings together passion, technology, history, culture, and design, drawing an impressively large market following.

The four-day event features panel discussions and presentations on current topics, while also giving prominence to organizations like ACI and ASI (Automoto Club Storico Italiano), which spearhead efforts to preserve Italy’s motoring heritage. In addition to dealers, collectors, and vintage-car specialists, the gathering will welcome scale-model enthusiasts, restorers, parts suppliers, and the specialized press.

The event includes specialist and private sales and an auction hosted by Finarte showcasing rare treasures. Highlights include a 1961 Maserati 3500 GT once owned by Juan Manuel Fangio—despite its poor condition, with restoration costs expected to exceed €300,000, it remains a must-have for serious collectors. Also on display: the 1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Pininfarina that raced in the 1949 Mille Miglia, and an exceptionally rare 1948 Cisitalia Cabriolet, superbly restored to its former glory.

Among the Italian highlights is the beloved Fiat Bianchina of Fantozzi fame, immortalized in Paolo Villaggio’s films. And of course, Ferrari is indispensable: these racing reds carry such priceless heritage that they’ve secured spots at New York’s MoMA and Berlin’s National Gallery.

Thanks to the RIAR—the Italian Alfa Romeo Register—attendees can admire a splendid nonagenarian: the 1929 Alfa 6C 1750 SS Spider Zagato Grand Prix, whose victories include the Belgian Grand Prix in its year of registration. Also at the RIAR stand is the 1984 Giulietta 2.0 Turbodelta, one of just 361 ever built.

No exhibition of Italy’s motoring legacy would be complete without Lancia and Fiat. Cars like the Topolino, the 500, and the 128 wrote the nation’s automotive history. For its part, Peugeot celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 304, while Jaguar, MG, Triumph, and Land Rover shine a spotlight on British craftsmanship.

Technology and innovation now go hand in hand. Seat dedicates a special showcase to the evolution of the Ibiza—the first model built at its Barcelona plant in 1984 on a Ronda (the Spanish Ritmo) chassis. Designed by Giugiaro, the project launched a production run of 5.5 million units and remains a source of pride for the marque.

On the development front, Ford honors the Transit, the iconic workhorse that best embodies its brand identity. Among the paragons of luxury and high performance on display are Alpine, Bentley, Dallara, McLaren, Pagani, and Porsche. Notably, for the fifth consecutive year, Porsche sponsors the Porsche Classic restoration competition, open to all Porsche centers and official Classic partners across Italy.