The Mille Miglia race celebrates its 90th anniversary

The Mille Miglia, which marks its 90th anniversary this year, was born ad an open-road endurance race who took place in Italy from 1927 to 1957. Since 1977, it became a regularity race for classic and vintage cars and participation is limited to cars produced no later than 1957 and which were at least registered to the original race. The Mille Miglia features a classic Brescia-Rome round trip.

The 90th edition of this famous Italian car race will take place on May 18 and, just like every year, it will be oversubscribed - with over 700 cars registered. The cars that will participate represent the so-called crème de la crème and will be selected by a panel of renowned judges: the Mille Miglia is, basically, a pure display of vintage style and elegance and will include 440 vehicles.

92 of the cars, manufactured before 1957, are priceless vehicles that actually raced in the original endurance events between 1927 and 1957.

Let’s take a look at some of the participants: Mercedes will appear with a 1928 SSK, a 300SL produced in 1952, eight 300SL Gullwing models; a 190SL; and a 1954 220a.

The Italian flagship brand of cars Fiat, on the other hand, will participate the 1000-mile round trip this year with 14 cars that completed the original race, as will 12 Alfa Romeos, four Zagato-built cars, two Maseratis, and four Ferraris.

Ferrari won the last official Mille Miglia in 1957 and the Prancing Horse will include the current edition of the race in its own 70th-anniversary celebrations.

The 90th Mille Miglia will officially start on Thursday, May 18 in Brescia, taking in Padova, San Marino and Perugia before turning around in Rome and heading back to the starting point via Siena, Modena and Parma.