Adrenaline. Speed. Chaos. The neverending quest to defy the limits of both man and machine defined Group B rally racing, and no one translates the untamable spirit of that era into the world of contemporary design better than Autodromo.
Best known for creating imaginative, auto-inspired designs that combine a healthy dose associated with nostalgia with thoughtful and modern details, it’s no secret that we only at Hodinkee have been huge fans of Autodromo for quite a while. When the opportunity for a collaboration between our Limited Editions team and Autodromo founder Bradley Price appeared to be presented, we unanimously agreed that it wasn’t enough to riff on the previous models of the highly-popular Group B series. We pulled out all the stops to create something very special. Marked by an intoxicating sense of danger in terms of style, ingenuity, as well as power, the unchained and also innovative nature of Team B represents a moment in rally history that is simply unrepeatable. Occupying from 1982-1986 and influenced by almost no rules, the actual vehicles introduced in this era defied mass-production standards along with incredibly fast, lightweight designs that utilized space-aged materials and the latest technologies to achieve unheard-of speeds across rugged terrain. Party B would usher the particular arrival regarding vehicles together with four-wheel-drive and up to 500 brake horsepower, all wrapped up in branded liveries identifiable by their iconic color combinations. Teetering within the edge involving victory along with disaster, Class B might have been short in terms of years, but the mythos of the era continues to be an endless source of fascination for motoring followers long after its end.
With the intent of keeping everything all of us loved about the original Set B while reimagining what the watch was capable of, we all knew there was to add some racing-inspired capabilities with the addition of the Swiss-made mechanical chronograph movement. To celebrate the most successful Collection B liveries of the period and their excited early-80s styles, the dials expertly reference the spirit of Crew B move racing in addition to bring a sense of fun back into collecting.
For more than ten years connected with kicking around ideas on how Hodinkee plus Autodromo can collaborate on a limited edition watch, we are proud in order to introduce a Limited Edition collection of five new manual-wound chronographs that embody the nature of the “last romantic era” in motoring history: typically the Autodromo Cluster B Rallysport Chronograph Restricted Edition Collection for Hodinkee. Inspired by the quintessential risk and beauty synonymous using Group W rally with an added functionality that’s just as essential to the activity, there is an Autodromo Group C Rallysport Chronograph for every financial institution, driver, and even enthusiast.
Bold, sleek, and with an 80’s flair which only Autodromo could conjure up so effortlessly, each Autodromo Group B Rallysport Chronograph is as daring as it is personal. Drawing upon often the Group Udemærket liveries which Price admired in his own childhood, this Limited Edition collection with regard to Hodinkee features colorful knobs that allude to four with Group B’s most famous vehicles, as well as one original colorway that functions as Hodinkee’s very own livery.
Building off the platform from the original Team B watch, we were thrilled to usher in a hand-wound mechanical chronograph movement to the lineup with a Sellita SW 510 M B motion. Despite all of the added performance, this view is just slightly thicker than its for-runners at 13. 4mm together with sports any highly-wearable height of 40mm. Boasting an energy reserve up to 63 hours and water proofing of 50 feets, the Party B Rallysport Chronograph makes an excellent companion for whenever adventure strikes.
Of the most remarkable features of this particular timepiece is the unique bi-metallic case construction. Primarily composed of high-quality titanium and with a chrome steel lug case, the body of the watch has satisfying heft but nothing in the bulkiness, allowing the case to be able to sink in to the wrist for a comfortable yet luxurious feel. Blending modern and minimal aesthetic principles seamlessly to the overall 80s-inspired feel, hexagonal-shaped pushers add a contemporary detail in a subtle fashion quintessential to Autodromo’s design ethos. The lightweight stainless steel bracelet gleams like a DeLorean in the rain and they are removed having a springbar tool if you prefer to personalize your style with your favorite strap.