STRA, Italy — The lineup of vintage classic automobiles in front of Villa Pisani on Tuesday morning would have made any collector and car enthusiast swoon.
From a 1928 Bentley Speed Six, a 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider Zagato, and a Lamborghini Miura P400 from 1968, to the Mercedes-Benz 380 special roadster Erdmann & Rossi from 1933, a 1939 Aston Martin C-type speed model roadster Bertelli and a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato, the range parked in the 14-hectare garden of the 18th-century edifice inspired by Versailles and known as the “Queen of Venetian Villas” would depart the following day to participate in the Louis Vuitton Dolomites Classic Run 2026.
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Taking place over a four-day experience, 22 exceptional vintage cars will compete across a route of approximately 370 miles in a regularity race, which is not determined by speed: crews, comprising a driver and a navigator, are judged on precision and timing. “The Louis Vuitton Classic Run stands as a unique form of competition with rules and requirements that extend far beyond the mere pursuit of speed,” said proudly an enthusiastic Pietro Beccari, chairman and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton. “These iconic automobiles stand as witnesses to passions and values that run deeper than the mileage covered, echoing Louis Vuitton’s savoir-faire and pursuit of excellence.”
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Starting from Stra, a town a half-hour drive from Venice, the event will unfold through the spectacular scenery of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, with a stop at the Museo Gypsotheca Antonio Canova dedicated to the Italian Neoclassical sculptor and a lunch at Cortina d’Ampezzo, on to Iseo Lake, a visit to luxury boat builder Riva, and parade in Monza on Friday as part of the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix events at the city’s circuit. A closing gala will take place at Milan’s Castello Sforzesco, which will host the award ceremony where the trophies will be presented to the winner. The cars will then be exhibited during the weekend at the 18th-century Royal Villa in Monza.
The trophy designed by Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis, crafted by Venini, the Italian art glassmaking house and protected within a bespoke, handcrafted Monogram trunk, was unveiled in Venice on Tuesday evening at the Gothic-style Doge Palace with a performance conceived and directed by theater and opera director Fabio Cherstich.
Introduced in 1993, Beccari spearheaded the return of the Classic Run after its last race in 2012 — which incidentally ended in Venice — since rejoining Louis Vuitton in February 2023, following a previous tenure at the brand starting in 2006, before leading Fendi and Christian Dior.
“The Classic Run speaks of people who travel in elegance, of innovation, of being in step with the times, and of beautiful cars, so what better country than Italy to restart?” said Beccari. Italy is also a major manufacturer for Louis Vuitton and LVMH, a country where the group employs around 18,000 people.
Over the years, the Classic Run covered challenging routes, from the Malaysian jungle and rubber plantations in 1993, to the Tuscan editions in 1995 and 1997 and the rice paddies and mountains from Dalian to Beijing in 1998 or the ancient oak forests of Bohemia in 2006 from Budapest to Prague via Vienna.
“It reignites the spirit of the grand tour. It is at once a sporting event, a cultural journey and an expression of craftsmanship, and it reaffirms the house’s vision of travel as an art form in itself,” said Beccari, who underscored the “absolute meaningfulness of the link” between Louis Vuitton and the automotive world, harking back to the first auto trunk created by Georges Vuitton, son of Louis, in 1897, replacing the bulky trunks of the era with a flat-topped design and marking a new chapter in travel. The Sacs Chauffeurs followed in 1905, featuring a perfectly round shape to fit directly into the well of a car’s spare wheel.
Also, first announced in 2024, and launched for the 2025 Grand Prix season, LVMH has entered a landmark 10-year global sponsorship agreement with Formula 1, in a partnership with Louis Vuitton.
However, the roots between the two entities run deep. Moët & Chandon pioneered the podium Champagne tradition in 1966 and Tag Heuer has served as a trusted timekeeper for decades. As for Louis Vuitton, the house began handcrafting Trophy Trunks for the Monaco Grand Prix in 2021.
“Obviously, with the Classic Run we don’t expect the same visibility Formula 1 affords, but still we have beautiful stories to tell,” said Beccari. “I always say Louis Vuitton is a cultural brand and this is yet another example of its breadth, which helps to fuel its legend and generate interest.”
Indeed, through initiatives ranging from artwork conservation to museum restoration projects, Louis Vuitton “contributes to safeguarding these historic landmarks and ensuring that their invaluable legacy is preserved and passed on to future generations,” he remarked. The house is supporting, in collaboration with Venetian Heritage Foundation, the refurbishment and the new lighting system installation of Villa Pisani’s Sala di Bacco, a unique 18th-century room devoted to musical performances, exquisitely decorated by Jacopo Guarana. The Dolomites Classic Run offered the possibility to the public to admire the new setup of the Sala di Bacco and the car exhibition on Tuesday, exceptionally open to public free of charge.
In Monza, about 10 miles from Milan, Louis Vuitton will support the restoration of the historic clock and the facade of the southwest wing of the main building of the Royal Villa, once the residence of the Savoia family.
At Milan’s Castello Sforzesco, Louis Vuitton is supporting the ongoing restoration of the Sala delle Asse, which houses the renowned “Monocromo,” the only existing mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci’s own hand alongside the Last Supper in Milan, by curating the reinstallation of the museum exhibition and its lighting system, set to be completed in 2027.