This year, gearheads and classic car fans took over the Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course in Seaside, California to mark the 40th anniversary of Concorso Italiano. On Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 10 AM to 4 PM, the Monterey Peninsula rumbled with the sights and sounds of Italian automotive legends. Now under the International Car Week banner, the show keeps true to its heritage—only with more horsepower, chrome, and car camaraderie than ever.
Celebrating Exquisite Italian Automotive Classic Cars, Sports Cars, Super Cars, Hyper Cars with a Bit of American Muscle Thrown into the Mix
Above: Drone panorama photo of the 2025 Concorso Italiano (photo courtesy of Concorso Italiano Media)
Above and below: 1957 Ferrari 625 TRC, owned by Stephen W. Rohreer, Santa Cruz, CA
Picture this: fairway after sand trap after putting green of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, Panteras, Fiats, and Alfa Romeos, with the occasional non-Italian exotic sneaking in to keep things interesting. It wasn’t your average car show - this was pure automotive passion on display, where every engine note and polished panel brought out the gearhead in all of us.
Above and below: The engine that powers the midnight blue, heavily beautified and modified De Tomaso Pantera that has the prestigious lead photo position is a Ford 427 cammer mill. Greg and Robin Paboojian, of Liberty Lake, WA are the proud owners of this Italian American masterpiece. Rocky Balboa and Sylvester Stallone would be very proud of this creation. The personal license plate reads 'SHODOWN' - fitting.
But Concorso Italiano is more than just a celebration of legendary cars - it's a tribute to Italian culture in all its glory. From the style and craftsmanship to the food, music, and vibrant energy, the event is packed with everything enthusiasts love about Italy. Whether you’re drawn by the rich heritage, the unmistakable designs, or the lively atmosphere, it’s a true immersion into la dolce vita - car lover style.
Above and below: 1959 Maserati 3500 Spider Prototipo Vignale- a beauteous drop top boulevard brawler from Maserati in the late 1950's - sei Bellissima!
Above: 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce, Mike Ingegno, Oakland, CA
Spotlight Legends & Special Displays
- Cisitalia: For its 80th anniversary, the show brought out four incredible factory race cars—the D46 monopostos, the Nuvolari Spyder, and the Mille Miglia-run Aerodynamica 202 coupe. It was one of those displays that made every car lover stop, stare, and get goosebumps.
- Lamborghini Diablo “Victoria’s Secret”: After years tucked away, this runway icon made a stunning return to the spotlight, helping celebrate the Diablo’s 35th anniversary in true head-turning style.
- Saleen S7: This American supercar grabbed the spotlight at a special 25th-anniversary showcase on Friday night, with Steve Saleen himself making an appearance at The Paddock, Concorso Italiano’s brand-new event for passionate enthusiasts.
Above: 1967 Bizzarrini Strada, Mike Kerns, Venice, CA
Voices Behind the Curtain
Above and below: The owner of a way sleek and cool British Jaguar XK120 roadster is fitted with a bubble top on the driver's side and an aluminum tonneau cover on the passenger side - forming a bubble glass over jet black silhouette. The man with the thumbs up and white hat is likely the owner and definitely about to climb in and race along the fairway and golf cart track.
Bringing their passion and personality to the mic, Matt Stone - legendary car journalist and Barrett-Jackson mainstay - and Colleen Sheehan, who jumped behind the wheel of a 1930 BMW at Monterey Car Week before she was even a teenager, made sure every story and engine note truly came alive for the crowd.
Above and below: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, owned by Mike White, of Woodside, California
Talk about a car enthusiast's dream - Valentino Balboni, the legendary Lamborghini test driver, made the trip from Italy just to personally hand out the Balboni Award. Watching him return to what he calls his “spiritual home” was a moment every true gearhead could feel.
Above and below: Saleen 302 Mustang fastback and a 2024 Saleen 302 White Label Mustang with the Saleen exhibit in the background - The White Label 302 Mustang makes 500-horsepower from its 5.0L, 302 cubic inch Saleen optimized TI-VCT Ford V8 engine (www.Saleen.com).
Above: The story about hammer/hand forming this aluminum sports car body was likely being revealed while this photo was taken, but MCW/CI didn't have time to eavesdrop. There were other photographs to take.
Above and below: This midnight blue over blood red 1965 Maserati Mistral Spyder, owned by George Andreini, of Portola Valley, CA, was one of MCW's/CI's favorites.
Above and below: 1957 Ferrari 250 GT
Chief Judge: Gary Bobileff is a restoration rockstar - he’s brought more than 30% of the world’s surviving Lamborghini Miuras back to roaring life. Gary’s the kind of judge every car enthusiast loves: passionate about the details, authentic to the core, and all about celebrating the cars and the people who love them. At Concorso Italiano, there’s no room for egos - just genuine, open‑arms excitement for these rolling works of art.
Above and below: Georg and Katie Putnam, of Alamo, California are the proud owners of a super nice 1965 Ford Mustang A code fastback. The A code designation means that the 289 cubic inch Ford small block V8 powerplant produces 225-horsepower from its single four-barrel carb fed, hydraulic lifter Ford engine. A deluxe red embroidered vinyl pony car upholstery, rally pac tachometer and clock gauge pods surround the steering column, a toploader four-speed manual transmission, and disc front brakes well-equip the interior.
Above and below: The 1967 Apollo GT has Italian design and Chevrolet Corvette 327 cubic inch V8 power. This one is owned by Denny K. Paul.
Culture Over Competition
Above and below: 1925 Lancia Lambda Casard, owned by Paul and Vicki Tulius, of Chico, CA - a timeless beauty
Above and below: 1974 De Tomaso Pantera, owned by Dennis and Liz Valdez of San Jose, CA
Concorso Italiano is anything but a stuffy car show. It’s where car lovers and friends come together to soak up the sun, marvel at automotive legends, and share stories over plates of amazing Italian food. Everywhere you look, there’s the energy of live music, the sparkle of Italian fashion, laughter drifting from VIP lounges, and a parade of jaw-dropping cars gleaming in the daylight. It’s a full-on celebration of passion, personality, and the pure joy of being part of the automotive community -Italian style.
Above: From 2021-2024, Kevin Kay Restorations, in Redding, CA, modified and completely restored to a concours level, a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 coupe. The goal of the restoration was to build the absolute best 007 James Bond DB5 in the world, with no expense spared, and by using modern2020's technology - a restomod 007 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 - if you will.
Above: Goldfinger James Bond 007 actor Sean Connery's signature is inside the glove box, as you can see. He also signed the glove box door, but the door is currently missing in action with his estate. RIP, Mr. Sean Connery.
Above: The restorer shared that when you push the passenger seat ejection button atop the gear shift lever, you won't eject your nefarious passenger (or your spouse, who you may be in an argument with). However, the passenger seat will shake. Hence, that would be a good way to scare your spouse into being quiet and thereby winning the argument. The bullet proof wall that arises from the trunk is comprised of bullet-proof and lightweight carbon fiber.
The Vibe: Dreams & Reflections
If you’ve ever wanted to see living, breathing automotive art, Concorso Italiano 2025 was the ultimate destination. This wasn’t just a show—it was a gearhead’s dream adventure, where shining chrome, flawless bodywork, and pure passion took center stage. The big names - Cisitalia D-series, Diablo, and a pair of Saleen 302 Mustangs (one slick fastback coupe and a convertible looking ready for a sunset cruise)—anchored the scene, giving everyone something to drool over. And with icons like Balboni and Bobileff bringing their stories and energy, the whole event felt like one big family gathering for people who live and love cars.
Forget chasing numbers - Concorso Italiano was all about the stories that make us car folks tick. Every ride, every owner, every rumble of Italian steel had a story to tell, packed with memories, pride, and that good old-school nostalgia every enthusiast hopes to experience again and again.
Classic Industries Awarded Best in Show for American Muscle Car Parts
If you have an American muscle machine in your garage, carport, or apartment parking spot, there's a great chance that Classic Industries has the components you need to get her back on the road and cruising around this great globe. Gearheads can shop on the CI website and enhance that search for those must have items by clicking the catalog button below and selecting the catalog for the vehicle that you own. You'll get a catalog delivered to your home in far less time than it takes to restore your pride and joy (one would hope). Have fun in your garage!
