Some 60 vintage vehicles that could have qualified for the Mille Miglia, Italy’s most-famous open-road race, will be displayed on San Francisco’s Nob Hill on April 28 for a free car show and preview of the 29th annual California Mille.

Ancient Alfa Romeos, pristine Porsches and magnificent Mercedes-Benz will take their places next to historic Jaguars, Ferraris, Aston-Martins and other classics (including the oldest entry: a 1928 OM 665 Superba Boattail) on Mason Street, closed to traffic between Sacramento and California Streets.

The public is invited to see the cars and meet the drivers from 17 states and from Japan, Switzerland, Colombia and Canada from 11 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The Ron Borelli Band will add to the festivities with Italian-themed music.

At 1:30 Sunday afternoon California Mille co-directors David and Howard Swig will greet the fans and introduce Italian Consul General Lorenzo Ortona who will recall the history of the Mille Miglia (thousand mile) that ran from 1927 to 1957.

On Monday, April 29, at 8:15 a.m. Consul General Ortona will wave the Italian flag outside the departure arch at Mason and California Streets, officially starting the four-day, one thousand mile tour (not a race) of northern California time capsule towns and little-known back roads.

“This year’s route encompasses a number of familiar Mille landmarks, along with many brand new ones, “David Swig has revealed. “ We’ll be heading north toward the Napa Valley, skirt the eastern foothills of the Mendocino National Forest, explore the Trinity Alps, tour Mt. Shasta, pass briefly through the communities of Igo and Ono, and end our drive in Healdsburg on May 2.