The roar of a vintage engine firing into life, the scent of petrol and leather, the gleam of chrome beneath an October sky: on 17 and 18 October, Lugano enjoyed two days of exactly that. The tenth edition of Lugano Classic proved the most successful to date, both for the care of its organisation and for the calibre of the cars on show. The anticipation began on Friday evening, live on RSI, where the programme Siamo Fuori welcomed the cars and the organisers. They shared stories of passion and the emotions that, for ten years, have driven the Associazione Classic Cars Ticino to bring treasures of automotive history out of their garages and share them with everyone.
On Saturday, the overcast skies deterred no one. From morning until evening, 83 cars (76 entrants and 7 guest vehicles) filled the city centre, as collectors chose to open their passion to the public, who thronged the streets and squares throughout the day. In front of the Palazzo Civico stood seven truly exceptional cars: a magnificent pre-war Alfa Romeo and several one-off prototypes, born in an era when manufacturers entrusted the world’s finest designers and coachbuilders with creating works that could stand alongside painting and sculpture. Art left the exhibition halls and stepped out among the people.
Each square told a different chapter of the story. In Piazza Rezzonico, 35 Vespas from Ticino’s clubs celebrated eighty years of the world’s best-loved scooter, alongside a fine line-up of Volkswagens: the people’s car beside the people’s scooter, two symbols of a Europe that was getting back on the move. Piazza San Carlo hosted the racing cars and the Mercedes-Benz models, Piazza Manzoni the Minis, and Piazza Cioccaro the Alfa Romeos. In one corner of Piazza della Riforma, all eyes turned to the future, with the young enthusiasts of young4vintage and Next Heritage, the new generation who will carry historic motoring forward.
The day’s programme also included lunch at the Hotel Continental, a guided tour of the city, challenges on professional racing simulators, and the chance to rise more than 50 metres above the ground on a platform provided by Camillo Vismara, offering a rare vantage point over Lugano, the lake and the mountains.
In the afternoon, the talk “Quella volta che… memorie di vita e di corse” (“That time when… memories of life and racing”) featured former Formula One driver Ivan Capelli, now a highly regarded motorsport commentator. Together with journalist Roberto Gurian, he looked back on his career through anecdotes and tales from the pit lane, holding the audience spellbound. An aperitif in the courtyard of the Palazzo Civico brought the day to a close.
On Sunday morning, the collectors gathered at Merbag in Vezia for breakfast and the drivers’ briefing, before setting off with their road books along some of Ticino’s most beautiful roads: Bioggio, Morcote with its lakeside village, Bissone and Riva San Vitale. Their destination was Castello Luigi in Besazio, a wine estate nestled in the hills of the Mendrisiotto, where wine is crafted with the same patience and respect for time that collectors devote to their cars. Among the vines, the crews tasted exceptional wines accompanied by an aperitif, in an intimate and unhurried atmosphere.
On the return leg came a series of driving skill tests in Balerna, followed by the climb up to Morbio Superiore and the descent into Mendrisio, before the cars made their way back to Piazza della Riforma along the lakeshore. A few light showers along the route only made the journey more memorable. The grand finale took place in the panoramic hall of LAC, Lugano’s cultural heart, its vast windows opening onto the lake. After the prize-giving, the organising committee and sponsors bade farewell to the participants, with an appointment for the 2027 edition.
Some stories are meant to be driven rather than told, and once again Lugano welcomed them with open arms.
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Article edited by Massimo Basile
Editor & Founder