At the ADI Design Museum in Milan, a restoration of vintage cars is underway with techniques reserved for the recovery of works of art

In particular, we refer to the concept of style and design applied to the collection of vintage cars, and to its valorization as an artistic heritage worthy of protection beyond the simple academic or category interest, as recognized by UNESCO, the UN agency for protection of scientific, cultural and educational activities and which, as we will see shortly, has already expressed its opinion on these initiatives by awarding a prestigious award.

But let's go in order and get to know the protagonists of the event underway in Milan.

The ADI Design Museum is the brand new exhibition center opened in the Lombardy capital by the Association for Industrial Design, the institute that promotes, enhances and protects Italian design in the world on a global level and awards the Compasso d'Oro, the highest international recognition for the sector since 1954 .

We now come to Corrado Lopresto: an architect by cultural background, he is one of the best known vintage car collectors globally. For twenty consecutive editions, winner of prizes at the annual Concorso di Eleganza of Villa d'Este, the main category event, Lopresto has always dedicated himself to collecting non-series cars, i.e. unique pieces of particular historical interest.

Inspired by his personal aesthetic sensitivity, Lopresto was ahead of his time and today, when even the collecting sector is experiencing an identity crisis in comparison with the electrification and digitalisation that is affecting the automotive sector as a whole, we find this Milanese architect as a precursor of future that awaits vintage collectors.

Simplifying, the valorization of the historic vehicle is starting to archive its original function of road use, to become a witness of the technical-stylistic excellences which, as in the past justified its birth, will now ensure the vintage automotive sector a future even in today's twenty-first century .

Let's move from theory to practice, or rather: let's move on to the news. Simultaneously with the exhibition at the ADI Museum in Milan of six unique pieces from his collection, Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Bertone, Lancia Florida Pinin Farina, Osca 1600 GT Touring, Alfa Romeo Montreal Bertone, Fiat Panda Scioneri, Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Zagato, Corrado Lopresto commissioned three students from the European Institute of Design-Aldo Galli, Academy of Fine Arts recognized by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage of Rome, to proceed with the restoration of a 2100 Fiat 1961 custom-built car using techniques normally reserved for the conservative recovery of works of art. 'art.

This is an initiative destined to start a new trend in the sector, and which made its debut in the past with Lopresto.

In fact, in 2014 the Milanese architect purchased a very rare Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZT in the USA, in Philadelphia, with bodywork in 1961 by Zagato. Instead of proceeding with a traditional complete update of the mechanics and bodywork, the car was only half restored, allowing the public to compare the restoration work with the stylistic originality that the car still demonstrated after over half a century of use and then abandonment in a garage.

We would like to point out that the debut of this innovative semi-restoration in 2016 obtained the World Motoring Heritage Award, sponsored by UNESCO.

The awards ceremony took place during the Concorso di Eleganza of Villa d'Este, and is perhaps the most prestigious of the twenty years of awards awarded to Lopresto during this event. But we had already reported this to you at the start.