The 25th annual California Mille will bring 67 historic cars from all over the world to San Francisco on April 26 to salute Italy’s most famous open road race, the Mille Miglia. The public is invited to see the biggest free car show of its kind in America, meet the drivers and enjoy live Italian music on Mason Street between Sacramento and California Streets from noon until 4 PM.

Co-organizers David and Howard Swig, carrying on the Mille tradition begun by their late father Martin Swig in 1991, will introduce dignitaries, recall the colorful history of the original event and its California counterpart, and spotlight significant classics that could have qualified for the Mille Miglia that ran from 1927 to 1957.

On Monday morning, April 27, Italian Consul General Mauro Battocchi will wave the Italian flag by the partenza (departure) arch spanning Mason Street, signaling the start of a four-day, thousand-mile drive--not a race--that celebrates the spirit of the original event with “important cars, little roads and wonderful friends.”

Day 1 will see the Mille crossing the Golden Gate Bridge to parts of California that Martin Swig said, “Look more like Italy – than Italy”: Mill Valley, Fairfax, Pt. Reyes Station, Occidental, Santa Rosa and Napa for the night.

Day 2 (April 28) the Mille will depart for Calistoga, Cloverdale, Boonville, Ukiah, and Little River.

Day 3 (April 29), the California Mille will motor to Fort Bragg, Garberville, Victorian Ferndale, returning to Little River for dinner and an overnight.

Day 4 (April 30) will see the California Mille heading for Jenner, Petaluma, Glen Ellen and concluding the adventure in Calistoga.

International entrants from Japan, Colombia, Britain and Germany will join California Mille participants from 13 U.S. states, with California accounting for 46 of the classics.

Cars in this 25th anniversary celebratory drive are:

YEAR MAKE/MODEL FROM

1927 Bentley 3 liter California

1928 Bentley 3/8 liter California

1932 Alfa Romeo 8C2300 California

1932 Alfa Romeo 8C2300 California

1938 BMW 328 streamliner Japan

1950 Lancia Ardea California

1952 Aston-Martin DB24 dhc California

1952 Cunningham C3 coupe California

1952 Jaguar XK120 ots Florida

1952 Jaguar XK120 roadster Florida

1953 Alfa Romeo 1900C Touring California

1953 Aston-Martin DB2 Hawaii

1953 Ford Comete California

1953 Lancia Appia California

1953 Nash Healey California

1954 Lancia Aurelia B20 California

1954 Lancia D24 Texas

1954 Maserati A6GCS California

1954 O.S.C.A MT4 1500 California

1954 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 coupe Maryland

1955 Austin-Healey 100M California

1955 Austin-Healey 100M Oklahoma

1955 Ford Thunderbird California

1955 Jaguar XK-140 ots California

1955 Lancia Aurelia B20S California

1956 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS California

1956 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS series 3 California

1956 Alfa Romeo 1900 SSZ California

1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Lt.Wt. California

1956 Austin-Healey 100M Colorado

1956 Ferrari 250GT Boano ally coupe Illinois

1956 Jaguar XK-140 fhc California

1956 Lancia Aurelia B24S California

1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL gullwing California

1956 Morgan +4 California

1956 Porsche Carrera 4-cam New York

1957 AC Aceca California

1957 AC ACECA 2.6 Zephyr Oregon

1957 Alfa Romeo 1900 CS California

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce England

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce Colombia

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint California

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint California

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint California

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Alleggertia California

1957 Chevrolet Corvette coupe California

1957 Ferrari 250GT Tour de Francer Connecticut

1957 Lancia Aurelia B24 Pennsylvania

1957 Lotus Elite California

1957 Maserati 200SL California

1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster California

1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster Pennsylvania

1957 Porsche 356 coupe California

1957 Porsche 356 coupe California

1957 Porsche 356 GT California

1957 Porsche Speedster Germany

1958 Ferrari 250GT Tour de France California

1958 Ferrari California Spider New York

1958 Lancia Aurelia B24S California

1959 BMW 5078 roadster ` Nebraska

1959 Porsche 356B cabriolet California

1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce California

1960 Porsche 356 Roadster Colombia

1962 Lancia Appia California

1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SK roadster Florida

Amici americani della Mille Miglia (American Friends of the Mille Miglia) presents the California Mille and the Anti-Football Tour. The nonprofit organization is head-quartered at 154 Mitchell Blvd, San Rafael, California. David and Howard Swig are co-directors with Dan Radowicz serving as organizer. Additional information is available at www.californiamille.com