Andrew Bagley Drives a Ferrari 275 GTB 1,100 Miles to Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
There are concours appearances, and then there are journeys worthy of the cars themselves.
This year, Salon Privé Co-Founder Andrew Bagley completed an extraordinary 1,100-mile road trip from the UK to Italy in a freshly restored 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, arriving at the world-renowned Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in the way many believe these cars were always intended to travel: under their own power.
The Drive to Lake Como — “Cars Were Meant to Be Driven”
Rather than transporting the Ferrari by enclosed trailer, Andrew chose to undertake the entire journey from the UK to Italy by road — embracing the spirit of grand touring that defined the Ferrari 275 GTB when it was new in 1965.
The route became a celebration of Europe’s greatest driving roads and landscapes, blending long-distance touring with concours culture in a way rarely seen today.
Starting in the UK, the journey crossed through northern France and Champagne before heading south towards Provence and the legendary Route Napoléon, one of Europe’s most celebrated driving roads. From there, the Ferrari climbed through the dramatic scenery of the Italian Alps before descending towards Lake Como and Villa d’Este.
Along the way, notable stops included Château de Chantilly and several picturesque mountain passes, each providing the perfect backdrop for a car built for exactly this kind of adventure.
The road trip was documented throughout the week across Salon Privé social media channels through a diary-style series of reels, photography and stories from the road, allowing enthusiasts to follow the Ferrari’s progress mile by mile.
A special thank you also goes to TourBoss, whose route-planning technology helped map and manage the journey from the UK to Lake Como. The platform allowed the team to build a memorable cross-European driving route worthy of the Ferrari and the occasion itself.
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este — A Debut to Remember
Held annually on the shores of Lake Como, Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este remains one of the world’s most prestigious and elegant concours events, attracting some of the finest collector cars ever built.
For Andrew’s Ferrari 275 GTB, the event marked its first concours appearance following an extensive four-year restoration — and the car immediately made an impression.
Throughout the weekend, the Ferrari drew admiration not only for its presentation and restoration quality, but also for the fact it had just completed a demanding 1,100-mile European road trip to be there.
That spirit of authentic motoring was recognised by the judges.
Andrew and David Bagley received two honours during the event:
1. Trofeo Automobile Club Como — awarded to the car driven the furthest distance to the event
2. Honourable Mention within its concours class
The awards perfectly captured the ethos behind the journey: concours cars should not simply be preserved — they should be experienced.
As Andrew reflected throughout the trip: “Cars were meant to be driven.”
A Celebration of Driving Culture
The journey to Villa d’Este became far more than a road trip. It was a reminder of what makes historic motoring special — the freedom of long-distance touring, the romance of European roads and the shared enthusiasm that surrounds concours culture at its very best.
For Salon Privé, it also served as a perfect continuation of the values that define the concours world: authenticity, passion and the enjoyment of remarkable automobiles in motion, not just through static display.
Because sometimes the greatest part of any concours event is the drive there.
