Our monthly picks of the most awesome automotive-related gear we found in April...
De Rosa SK Pininfarina Luxury , $17,711
store.pininfarina.com
As a petrolhead you probably wouldn’t mind cutting about in a machine penned by legendary design house Pininfarina, but if you can’t stretch to a Ferrari 250 Lusso and rightfully wouldn’t be seen dead in a Hyundai Lavita, then there is another option. In partnership with bicycle authority De Rosa, the Italian design firm has created the SK Pininfarina. The cutting edge road racing bike has a carbonfibre frame, Campag Super Record EPS V3 groupset, weighs 6.7kg and is probably faster than the Lavita.
911 loveRS, $155
waft.be
If Porsche’s range of cars was a Buddhist colony then the coveted RS performance flagships would be the Shaolin monks that can tear your arms off from 20 paces. This hardback by Jurgen Lewandowski is a definitive bible of the R, RS and RSR legacy, covering the history of the roid-pumped Porsches through owner anecdotes, technical data and stunning adventures. Pour yourself a matcha tea and Zen out.
Honda Type R vest, $93.50
honda.com.au
Not only did Honda’s manic Civic Type R smash the front-drive lap record of the feared and respected Nurburgring, it then went on to claim the 2018 Motor Performance Car of the Year award. In celebration of the accolade, Honda Australia has launched a range of Type R gear including this vest to keep you warm, but with the milestone 07:43.80 time embossed on the inside pocket, it’s cool at the same time.
Nomo Auto Icon prints, $38.10
shop.nomodesign.com
Here’s an idea for the man-cave wall that will appeal to the serious ‘spotters’ among you. Nomo Design has produced various sets of screen prints that beautifully highlight the distinguishing features of some of the world’s most recognisable and loved cars with simple, unmistakable line drawings. Choose from some more obvious noses including Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini, as well as less premium but equally worshipped brands.
Watches
Bremont Endurance Limited Edition, $8150
bremont.com
Bremont Watch Company is a British outfit founded by brothers Nick and Giles English. It produces aviation-inspired tool watches with a focus on extreme weather functionality. The Endurance was developed for a record-breaking unsupported expedition across Antarctica by explorer Ben Saunders. Its genealogy traces back to Bremont’s Supermarine model family, but the Endurance has gained its own unique identity with its extensive orange highlights. The 43mm titanium case is relatively light, and features an ‘exhibition back’ which displays the watch’s automatic movement and is robust enough to resist water to a depth of 500m. A rotating compass bezel, orange 24-hour GMT hand and crown protector have functional and aesthetic benefits. The limited run of 300 pieces launches in June.
Timex Marlin, $260
timex.com
Looking for an affordable watch with snob appeal? Timex has unexpectedly delivered the answer with a reissue of its hand-wound Marlin dress watch that looks like it just walked off the set of Mad Men. The Marlin was originally released in the 1960s and is so named for its water resistance. This reboot makes it the first mechanical watch from Timex since 1982. An unchanged 34mm stainless steel case that measures in at a slim 10mm thick is on the smaller side for a modern watch, but it has a perfect mid-century appearance on the wrist and ticks a box by remaining true to its pioneering predecessor.
Bausele Terra Australis Red Back, $4850
bausele.com
Swiss manufacturers dominate the collectable watch sphere (for better or worse), but there are notable timepiece innovators the world over, including right here in Oz. Bausele is an Australian company creating watches unique to this country. Designer and founder Christophe Hoppe developed a hollow crown design that holds actual Australian elements such as red earth, sand or opal. Case components are manufactured in Australia through a joint venture with Flinders University in Adelaide, then sent to Switzerland for assembly. The 46mm Terra Australis is the brand’s flagship automatic model. It weighs 150 grams and is available in three styles each limited to 50 pieces.
