HIGH LIFE

While we hunker down, down here, up there the sun still shines. Without this whole messy virus business, the European merry-go-round of classic car events would be in full swing throughout Europe — tarmac rallies, concours events, hill climbs, Le Mans Classic, Goodwood’s Festival and Revival, and the fabulous Silverstone Classic race events, among others.

There’s one event that even the most dedicated and eclectic of collectors and enthusiasts hold in the highest regard; it remains arguably the most exclusive gathering of its type. The Concorso d’Eleganza, Villa d’Este (VDE) has been held every May since 1949. The organizers of the VDE invite just 52 cars from around the world to a bacchanalian event of indulgence, pomp, glamour, and exclusivity. For three days the cars; their owners; and, depending how much the organizers and sponsors want to keep their patronage for the future, a smattering of suitably beautiful or