Cavallino Classic Middle East 2022

November 28, 2022

The second edition of Cavallino Classic Middle East has just ended. The event, that brings to Abu Dhabi some of Middle East’s most beautiful classic Ferraris, confirmed its status as the region’s most important event for classics and youngtimers “made in Maranello”.

Following on from the success of last year’s edition, this year’s Cavallino Classic Middle East on November 18-20 was also held to coincide with the last Formula 1 World Championship race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Link. Organized by Canossa Events at Casa Ferrari and staged just a few hundred meters from the circuit, Cavallino Classic Middle East closed the series of Cavallino Classics for 2022, the others having been held in January (Palm Beach, Florida) and May (Modena, Italy, plus a one-off on Fisher Island, Florida).

The Concorso d’Eleganza saw the 28 participating cars divided into six classes. A further 13 Ferraris were also shown outside the competition. Two main prizes were awarded, to the best Gran Turismo car and the best Competition one.

“The Gran Turismo Ferrari Cup” went to the 1962 Ferrari 250 GT/L owned by Giacomo Mattioli (ITA).

This car, s/n 5477 GT, one of only 351 produced in total, was originally produced for the German market, although it ended up with a French first owner. After arriving in the USA around the mid-1970s, this GT Lusso sat abandoned in a shed for over 40 years before being rescued by its current owner. It has just undergone a full restoration at Bacchelli & Villa of Bastiglia (MO). The work was completed just before summer, and the Abu Dhabi concours was its international debut.

“The Competition Ferrari Cup” was awarded to the 1951 Ferrari 340 America from the Cogan Collection (USA). This car, s/n 004/0116, sporting a Barchetta body built by Carrozzeria Touring Milano, has twice raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours (in 1951 and 1952), among other events. It was recently restored by Ferrari Classiche. In early 1951 it was sold, in Paris, to Pierre Louis-Dreyfuss, who in the first months of his ownership asked for a series of changes to it. In fact, the incredible original documents collected by the current owners include numerous letters exchanged between Mr. Dreyfuss, a mechanical engineer and passionate gentleman driver (racing under the pseudonym of Helde), and Enzo Ferrari concerning the modifications deemed necessary by the owner to improve the car’s performance.

Unsurprisingly, given that Ferrari fever is quite a recent phenomenon in this part of the world, the classes open to cars produced from the mid-1980s onward were the ones that excited the public the most. The cars particularly attracting their attention included two supercars, 1985 288 GTO (#55233) and 1988 F40 (#84140), as well as 2004 575 M Maranello (#134935) wearing an unusual White/Cartier Red color scheme, and 2011 SA Aperta (#179812), one of the only 80 produced. Pleasingly, the level of the cars entered was so high that all the entrants in some classes received the Platinum Award.

On Sunday, the second day of the concours, the members of the public got their chance to have a say, by choosing the Ferraristi Award (Platinum, Gold and Silver) winners. Confirming the first day’s winner, picked by the Judges, Platinum went to the 1951 Ferrari 340 America, s/n 004/0116, featuring a Barchetta body by Carrozzeria Touring. During the Gala Evening on the Saturday, as many as 13 cars were presented with a Platinum Award.

“This was an incredibly successful second edition. We ended our celebration of Ferrari’s 75^th anniversary with a great lineup of cars from all decades, starting from the factory reconstruction of the 125 S. Huge thanks to Ferrari Middle East, to Al Tayer Motors, and to all the collectors and Ferrari dealers in the Gulf region for their fantastic support” said Luigi Orlandini, President and CEO of Canossa Events and Cavallino. “With this edition of Cavallino Classic, we have seen something very new: the 1951 340 America #004/0116 has now won the Best of Show both here in Abu Dhabi and at the Cavallino Classic in Modena. It’s the first Ferrari ever to take the top Cavallino Classic award in two continents and it gives us the green light to launch a new, prestigious award. That will be announced soon, so stay tuned.”

The other prizes awarded were as follows:

The main prizes

“The Gran Turismo Ferrari Cup”, awarded by the Judges to the most iconic road Ferrari, went to the 1962 Ferrari 250 GT/L (#5477 GT) owned by Giacomo Mattioli (ITA).

“The Competition Ferrari Cup” awarded by the Judges to the most iconic competition Ferrari, was won by the 1951 Ferrari 340 America (#004/0116) from the Cogan Collection (USA).