Any discussion about the most beautiful machines has to include a classic Riva speedboat. Whether flashing across an Italian lake, with Tricolore fluttering on the bow and a dramatic white wake, or being craned out of the water, this mahogany-sheathed beauty captivates from every angle. The Riva has long evoked la dolce vita both on and off the screen.
Purists say the single-engined Super Ariston is the prettiest, but the Aquarama is the ultimate, with wraparound ʼscreen and paired big-block V8s under the engine cover that doubles as a sun deck. From Gianni Agnelliʼs initial test drives to an order book that included Loren, Bardot, Ekberg and Sellers, Riva built 769 before plastic replaced varnished wood in 1978. The coolest owner was Arturo Merzario, the ʼ70s Ferrari F1 ace who, after buying one in Monaco, decided to pilot it to Sardinia for a holiday. The 7-litre V8s required hourly refuels, but ʻthe Marlboro Manʼ made it in style.
Thanks to my friend Jason Wright and the wonderful Arcangeli family, whose business looks after classic Rivas, I finally lived my fantasy last October. Happy just to ride in the cockpit, marvelling at the gorgeous details and glorious views, I was stunned to be offered the helm. Each engine has its own gauges and controls, which makes the Aquarama easier to manoeuvre than a single-motor Riva.
Out on the lake, the steering wheel is almost redundant because the two hand throttles to the left are adjusted for turning. Pull them firmly in parallel and the acceleration is mighty, accompanied by a rich, muscle-car burble. Guiding the Aquarama out and around Isola Borghese, the former home of 1907 Peking to Paris race winner Prince Scipione Borghese, was a dream location, and itʼs little wonder that several well-known historic racers have Rivas stored at Centro Nautico Salo.
Lake Garda has a long history with speed. In 1931 Kaye Don took the Water Speed Record from American Gar Wood after piloting Miss England II at 110mph down a 32-mile-long section. Two years later, Francesco Agello bravely unleashed the full power of the twin-engined Macchi MC72 seaplane racer, flashing between the shoreline hillsides at 424mph, setting a record that still stands for a piston-engined aircraft. Speedboat competitions were also staged here, many with
