Sometimes, the most memorable events are the casual car meets among friends – and last weekend’s automotive get-together at Lake Como was no exception: Organized by our friends Tommaso Zeriali and Matteo Wolter of Motoring Attitude, the private event was held on the grounds of the mythical Motel Nautilus – a fabulous 1960s time capsule situated just a short drive north of Bellagio. Inspired by Jules Verne’s famous submarine and Italy’s maritime mid-century elegance, the boat-shaped motel is surrounded by enchanted gardens and almost a kilometre of private beach, making it one of the last secret hideaways on the shores of the otherwise rather famous and overdeveloped Lake Como.
While the palm-framed retro architecture and vintage furniture would already make most retronauts and Wes-Anderson disciples faint, the real treasure of the Nautilus Motel is hidden in the colorfully tiled garage and a little harbour where the charismatic hotelier Dodi Jost keeps a small fleet of vintage Italian racing boats and hydroplanes alongside his fine selection of classic cars. Last Saturday, the Scuderia Nautilus was joined by a group of friends from Northern Italy, Switzerland and even Berlin who came together to mingle and enjoy their cars on the shores of Lake Como.
The line-up included a beautiful selection of 1960s Alfa Romeos, Lancias and Porsches that matched perfectly with the retro scenery of the Nautilus Motel. While the silver Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona was certainly the star of the day, our favourite classic must have been the Fiat Nuova Campagnola which was Italy’s answer to the Land Rover in the 1970s. Among the more modern machines were a fine selection of 1990s Ferraris – including a yellow F355 and a black 512TR – as well as some future classics of the turn of the millennium, such as the Maserati 4200 and the Lamborghini Gallardo.
So there we were, talking cars with friends over Negroni Sbagliatos, listening to Italian disco classics and blinking into the mild October sun, when suddenly the peace was disturbed by the sound of thunder: Dodi Jost and his racing engineers had started one of the Alfa Romeo-powered racing boats from the 1960s for a casual joyride across the lake! And while Pebble Beach, Le Mans, Goodwood and all the other major automotive extravaganzas of the summer are already fading into a blur, we will not forget the magic of this small but perfect moment anytime soon.
Photos: Andrea Klainguti for Classic Driver
