If you ever wanted to figure out what it was like to be in a Petrolicious video, the Italian Happening might just be the closest thing to it. Held on the golf course at The Inn at St. John’s during last weekend’s Concours d’Elegance of America, the 2016 Italian Happening was a demonstration of tasteful automotive history, with everything from the vintage Fiat 124 Spider, to exotic rarities like the Ferrari Dino and Lamborghini Jalpa. Yes, there was a Jalpa there. Also present was an equally-rare Ferrari 550 Barchetta. The list just goes on.

We attended the event in a fantastic 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, one of only four 4C models that showed up. We owe it all to Alfa Romeo’s Jiyan Cadiz for making it work on such short notice, and for the Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Detroit for putting on the event.

In the gallery, you’ll notice everything from a legion of Fiat 124 Spiders, to a standalone Fiat Multipla, to a 1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6 Callaway Turbo — a fan favorite. Of the 200 cars registered, 170 made the trek, due to downright uncooperative weather. But we didn’t care if our driving loafers got soaked, or that our white slacks got splashed with mud, or that our umbrella didn’t work. Because how often does anybody get to see such amazing examples of Italian automotive history this side of a museum, in Michigan? Short answer: once a year.

Italian Happening 2016