“It’s all about beauty. Elegant lines and refined shapes. The poetry of curves, materials and colours. Boats and cars aren’t simply vehicles. I see them, quite literally, as works of art.” Calm voice and smiling features, Corrado Lopresto shares a lifetime of treasurehunting while navigating his 1936 motoryacht Thelas in the clear waters of the Aeolian Islands.
Over the course of four decades, he has amassed an astounding collection of more than 200 automobiles: the entire history of Italian production, starting from 1901, represented by one-of-a-kind vehicles. Prestigious names as well as forgotten ones: Ansaldo, Diatto, Bianchi, Stanguellini, Isotta Fraschini, Cisitalia. Mr Lopresto has made the tabloids for his eccentric selection criteria: only prototypes or No 1 chassis. It’s the most famous collection of Italian prototypes in the world. He is regularly featured in the press for numerous elegance prizes and challenging feats. One of his most fascinating adventures took place in 2019: he celebrated the 40th anniversary of his collection by driving 2,255 kilometres (1,402 miles), from Palermo to Milan in the 1934 FIAT 508 Balilla Lusso that started it all in 1979.
Less known, and discreetly tucked away from the bling of mainstream media, are his astounding collection of classic boats, his
