BOLOGNA – The area has more than doubled. And you can not only see it, but also hear it. Walking through the corridors of the Bologna Fair, one does not have the feeling of isolation that one felt in Padua. Then everything is tidy and well displayed, you can best enjoy the collections and models that have arrived from everywhere to enrich the 11 pavilions spread over 235,000 square meters, creating the best edition of vintage cars and motorcycles ever. Review that turns 40 years old. New for 2023 is the pavilion dedicated to two-wheelers, a space that didn’t exist before: for fans of historic two-wheelers, it’s a dream. “Auto e Moto d’Epoca is now considered at European level the greatest manifestation of the passion for motor racing: there is nothing in Europe that has the same dimensions, the same content and the same completeness of product and can truly satisfy all enthusiasts.” says Mario Carlo Baccaglini, CEO of Intermeeting.
Today the preview, from tomorrow the opening to the general public until Sunday. The president of Bologna Fiere, Giampiero Calzolari, also expressed his satisfaction and recalled the Motor Show, the most important event that took place in the pavilions. “Now we are starting again with the beauty of cars with Auto e Moto d’Epoca, which we want to continue to expand and which has an international and European vision.”
A showcase opportunity also for Motor Valley, which wants to make the most of the event to promote the region’s automotive vocation and influence the region. Exhibitors and visitors come from over 40 countries. Unique district in the world for its concentration of brands and its passion for motorsports: 188 sports teams, 13 specialized museums, 18 private collections, 4 race tracks and 11 go-kart tracks. In Pavilion 32, the top two- and four-wheeled products from Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Ducati, Pagani and Dallara are on display. Also included are the 4 race tracks of the “Terra dei Motori” as well as horse stables, private collections and rallies.
The narrative also changes with four paths. The world of classics, between clubs, historical registers, Aci and Asi and museums, starting with the MauTo of Turin, which celebrates its 90th anniversary with the exhibition of 8 cars from the collection. Previews include a 1981 Ferrari 312 T5, a 1935 Monaco entourage and a 1929 Lancia Lambda “Weymann”.
Then there’s the road trip with an unrivaled selection of cars for sale. The 15,000 square meter motorcycle track is a kind of fair within a fair for all fans of historic motorcycles. An unprecedented cultural heritage in its entirety. There is no shortage of goodies. Honda, with the participation of the award-winning Lucio Cecchinello Racing Team, is exhibiting a preview model from the world of racing as well as the historic 750 Honda K0. A special focus will then be on the history of BMW Motorrad in the brand’s 100th anniversary. A prominent place is occupied by the models of the Battilani Collection from Imola, one of the most renowned in Italy for the quality and quantity of its motorcycles and in particular for the Italian examples from the beginning to the 1940s. The last route is that of spare parts with the largest supply and market in Europe.
There is no shortage of major automotive brands that appeal to an audience of enthusiasts and highlight the common thread that connects historic cars to new models on the market, as well as the innovation and technology that comes with it. Participating in the Bologna edition are Volvo Cars Italia and Toyota, which showed a historic series of Land Cruisers to date, Fca Stellantis Heritage, which brought the new Alfa 33 Stradale to the fair, Mercedes, which presented the new Cle and Alpine, Bentley, McLaren, BMW, Touring Superleggera body. Old-fashioned pieces and new models are on display for each house.
