The original Mille Miglia ran from1927 to 1957. But after a well-documented crash—referred to in the 2023 movie Ferrari, among other places—it was discontinued.
In 1977, they brought it back, but not as an open-road race across Italy. Instead, it became a historical reenactment. That format continues today. But in recent years organizers realized they had a pretty good thing going, and they started several other events under the banner of the Red Arrow, the directional signs used in the race. Those include the Coppa della Alpi, run over the Alps in winter; the Green Mille for eco-friendly cars; three Mille Miglia Warm Ups used as training for the big event; and several of these, the Mille Experience. There are five of the latter, held in Italy, Greece, the UAE, Florida, and China. They just completed the one in Italy, and that’s what you see here.
It ran in the south of Italy, the back of the boot, starting in Puglia and running through Lecce, Bari, Brindisi, and all of the olive-garden countryside in between. If you win some of the Mille events, you get a guaranteed entry to the big Mille Miglia held June 9-13 of this year, following the traditional “figure eight” route from Brescia to Rome and back. That event will pit over 400 historic vehicles traversing Italy over five days in a time-speed-distance format, same as the Mille Experience you see here. But if you win a Mille Experience TSD rally, you only get a guaranteed spot in the Coppa della Alpi, which is still pretty cool.
Now, scroll on and imagine you’re roaring over the winding hills of Puglia.
1957 Mercedes SC 300
1000 Miglia
1954 Porsche 1500 Speedster
1000 Miglia
1958 Mercedes 300 SL
1963 Mercedes 300 SL, and a Thunderbird
1000 Miglia
1962 Mercedes 300 SL
1000 Miglia
1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint
1000 Miglia
Porsche 356
1000 Miglia
2023 Ferrari SF90 Spider
1000 Miglia
1957 Saab 93
1000 Miglia
2019 Ferrari 488 Pista
1000 Miglia
1954 Pre-A Porsche 356
1000 Miglia
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 C Super Sprint Touring
1000 Miglia
Porsche Speedster
One of 10 in the event
1000 Miglia
While the big Mille Miglia allows only cars eligible to run in the original race from 1927 to 1957, the 1000 Miglia Experience allows many different eras to participate, include modern supercars.
1000 Miglia
Lancia B20, Mercedes 300 SL, Porsche Speedster, Mercedes 190 SL.
1000 Miglia
Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider
1000 Miglia
The Speedster again
1000 Miglia
A stop in the town of Alberobello. Note the conical stone roofs.
1000 Miglia
1953 Porsche 356 1500 Super
1000 Miglia
Saab 93
1000 Miglia
Saab 93
1000 Miglia
1952 Porsche 356 1500
1000 Miglia
1952 Porsche 356 1500
1000 Miglia
No idea how a VW Golf Cabriolet got in…
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia
1957 Mercedes SC 300
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia
1954 Porsche 356 1500 Speedster
1000 Miglia
1964 Mercedes-Benz 300 E
1000 Miglia
1938 MG Ta Midget
1000 Miglia
Thumbs up all the way
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia
1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint
1000 Miglia
Happy team
1000 Miglia
1934 Aston Martin Le Mans
1000 Miglia
2004 MG TF
1000 Miglia
1970 Volvo Amazon
1000 Miglia
2021 Ferrari Roma
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia
1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia
1950 Jaguar XK120 Le Mans
1000 Miglia
1957 Mercedes SC 300
1000 Miglia
1954 Porsche 356 1500 Speedster
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia
Ferrari v MG
1000 Miglia
1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 spider
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia
Ferrari SF90
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia
1000 Miglia