The best vintage cars in the stunning setting of snow-covered peaks in the Upper Engadine. It is no wonder that season after season the International Concours of Elegance, or ICE as it is known, in St. Moritz has become one of the most popular events on the circuit. Collectors from all over the world come here to enjoy the rare experience of driving their classic cars on the snowy track on the polo field while the enthusiasts soak up the spectacle that only the pearl of the Upper Engadine can offer on a late winter's day. A jury panel of great experts and illustrious enthusiasts issues very serious verdicts.
What a line-up!
Three were the major themes: cinema, racing and lifestyle. All the vehicles at ICE are very significant in terms of their collectors' value, but above all, are iconic interpreters of history. The selection of 45 cars is a dream line-up of some of the most beautiful Ferraris, Maseratis, Alfa Romeos, Lamborghinis, Jaguars and Aston Martins ever built. Some examples? There was the black Testarossa Spider that featured next to Michael Jackson in the famous 1986 Pepsi advert, the 250 GTE 2+2 driven by Marshal Spatafora (incidentally, the only Ferrari to have enlisted with the Italian State Police), the Fiat 500 Jolly Ghia that once belonged to the actor Yul Brynner or the Fiat 130 Villa d'Este, later converted into a “giardinetta” for Gianni Agnelli by coachbuilder Introzzi.
The winners
In the “Jet Set on ice” class was won the stunning 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose Alloy. The “Stars on wheels” category was won by the 1965 Lamborghini Miura that appeared in the opening scene of The Italian Job. The “Vintage road racing” class went to a 1967 Morris Mini Cooper S ex Works, while the 1953 Jaguar C Type beat off its rivals in the “Barchettas on the lake” class. Finally, the “Vintage Grand Prix” class went to a 1939 Maserati 4CL. Two special prizes were also given out. The InstaLake award for the car with the most votes on Instagram, went to the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 4219GT while “Spirit of St. Moritz” for the car that best interpreted the spirit of the famed Swiss resort, was awarded to a 1971 Fiat 130 Villa d'Este. Finally, the “Best in Show” prize, awarded to the overall winner of the event, was given to the 1933 Alfa Romeo Tipo B/P3 Scuderia Ferrari, the single-seater driven by motorsport legend Tazio Nuvolari.
A legend at the wheel
The opportunity of a frozen lake as smooth as a billiard table was too tempting to be passed and two cars connected by a bond spanning six decades – a Lancia 037 Stradale and its modern reinterpretation, the Kimera EVO37 – shot a Pirelli video together. Ronnie Kessel was behind the wheel of the former, while the latter was driven by many-times world rally champion Miky Biasion, who won his first titles in a Lancia 037. The chase was perfectly controlled, despite the treacherous terrain, in a breathtaking video to be watched.
