Originally launched in 2008 as a hard-top retractable convertible Ferrari, the Ferrari California gained a lot of followers and attention from those looking for an entry-level Ferrari —if that is even possible— and a 'Cavallino Rampante' that offered the ability to seat more than two. Following the success of the Ferrari California, in 2016, Ferrari launched the California T, a turbocharged California with an 8-cylinder 3.9-liter engine capable of delivering a 553 horsepower.
Posts tagged #Top Automobiles
Experience: A Day at the IndyCar Series Firestone 600 with Armin Strom. A Perfect Day at the Garages and the Pits of the Texas Motor Speedway.
Last Monday, we brought you the news about the new Armin Strom Max Chilton Edition Edge Double Barrel right here. For the unveiling of the watch, we spent an unforgettable day with our friends from Biel at the Texas Motor Speedway in order to watch the IndyCar Firestone 600 race in Fort Worth, Texas. With a rainy forecast ahead of us, we geared up with our Armin Strom Edge Double Barrel and decided to spend most of the time inside the Chip Ganassi Racing Team hospitality tent and the garages.
Experience: Zenith Uber Baselworld 2016 Classic Car Rides. The Best Way to Move Around Basel this Year and Totally Free.
Without a doubt, Baselworld brings the best creativity in event planning from all the brands involved in the world's largest watch and jewelry show. Every year we come to Baselworld, beyond the amazing watch novelties we get to review, we are also blown away by the brands' displays, their pavilions, the unforgettable parties and the food and aperitifs we enjoy in their lounges. However, in the last five years, we haven't seen such a clever idea, like the one Zenith had this year.
Experience: A Day with Wheel Experts and WX Watches. Bringing Bespoke Luxury Vehicle Cutomization and Watches to the Next Level.
When luxury cars, bespoke wheels, body kits —we are not talking about the models here—, luxury watches and beautiful women intertwine, the result is a captivating day with an unforgettable photo shoot. Guys, you won't want to miss reading the rest of this article. In more than 25 years collecting watches, we've met some interesting folks in the watch collecting world. However, only a handful of times we've ran into passionate watch collectors like our friends at Wheel Experts Automotive Group.
Experience: Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé. Riding Along with a Hublot King Power Unico King Gold.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé is one of the most technologically advanced and potent Rolls-Royce automobiles. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé just like the Hublot King Power Unico King Gold, is one of those luxury items designed for those that are remarkably bold. Sir Henry Royce —co-founder of the company— once said: "Take the best that exists and make it better", well, Rolls-Royce is always at the forefront pushing the boundaries of design and engineering. With its power, style and class, the Phantom Coupé paired with the striking look of the Hublot King Power Unico King Gold white makes a statement wherever you go.
Inspired by the Phantom II Continental of the 1930s, the Phantom Coupé is a celebration of sporting style and glamour. Fitted with coach doors a.k.a 'suicide doors', the first thing you notice as you open them up is the captivating smell of its fine leather interior and the strikingly glamorous 1,600 individual fiber optics sewn into the headliner to create your very own star-filled sky.
Experience: Ferrari F430 Scuderia and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26470OR Rose Gold. Absolute Perfect Pairing.
What best way to showcase the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 26470OR.OO.A002CR.01 than to feature it along with one of the most amazing supercars out there. We are talking about the Ferrari F430 Scuderia. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore line in 42 mm unveiled at the SIHH 2014 as we presented it to you here, was slightly redesigned 20 years after its launch in 1993. Today, the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore features beefier crown guards, ceramic crown and pushers, new dial options, straps with pin buckles and display case backs. Thankfully, the watch didn't lose much of its original essence and Audemars Piguet needs to be congratulated for that. We all know how bad it is when iconic watches get redesigned and they end up being so far from their original designs that they become a completely different timepiece.
Experience: Porsche 991 Carrera S in the Company of a Richard Mille RM015 Le Mans Classic in Red Gold.
Here's one of the most fascinating watch-car combos we've featured in a while —a Richard Mille RM015 Le Mans Classic in red gold in the company of a gorgeous Porsche 991 Carrera S with Carrera Red interiors.
'991' is the internal designation —also the number used by serious Porsche enthusiasts— for the seventh generation of the Porsche 911 unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show as the replacement for the '997'.
This silver 'beast' is fitted with a horizontally opposed six-cylinder 3.8 liter rear engine that delivers 400 hp that can go from 0-60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. A 'beast' of a car in all senses of the word.
This particular car in GT Silver Metallic color comes with 20-inch Carrera S wheels, a Carrera Red leather interior, a PDK transmission and the sport chrono package. The interior is really gorgeous, spacious and very comfortable. It is a joy to drive this beauty every day.
The Porsche '991' comes with some major improvements when compared to the previous generation '997'. There's a clear enhancement on the quality of the equipment and the overall look of the interior which happens to be roomier than the one in the '997'. While the rear passenger/luggage space is also less tight in the new model, it still really can't fit anyone taller than five feet —only a perfect fit for Santa Claus' elves. Overall, the most visible improvement is the level of refinement and how posh the interior now looks.
While the '991' is not that much faster than its predecessor, it feels faster as it is lighter. Another great improvement is that the level of noise coming into the cabin from the rear tires has been reduced and now the interior sound level is perfect. Additionally, the '991' comes with a standard sport exhaust button that is linked to an acoustic tuner which brings the characteristic flat-six exhaust note into the rear of the cabin.
If you are ready to pay a Sticker Price of $126,440 USD for a Porsche just like the one we have here, make sure you wear that Richard Mille that's been sitting in the safe for months on the day you go pick it up at the dealership.
For more info click here.
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Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon Titanium. Up to Par and Almost as Pricey as a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept was first launched in 2002 as ref. 25980AI.OO.0003SU.01 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the launch of the iconic Royal Oak in a limited edition of 150 pieces. That first Royal Oak Concept, was fitted with an ultra rare sculpted-shaped case made of Alacrite 602 with a hardness of 430 vickers and a titanium bezel. The Alacrite 602 is a super-alloy composed of 57% cobalt, 31% chrome, 5% tungsten and the remaining 6% of carbon, silicon and iron.
While the first Royal Oak Concept did feature a tourbillon, it didn't come with a GMT function. Alternatively, it was equipped with a dynamograph, a power reserve indicator showing the number of turns of the barrel and a Kevlar aramid fiber strap.
Experience: 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC with an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15300ST. A Perfect Combo of the Good Life.
A Ferrari 330 GTC is as iconic in the 'Cavallino Rampante' history as it is the Royal Oak in the history of Audemars Piguet. The Ferrari 330 GTC Berlinetta was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1965 as a two-seater coupé designed by iconic car designer Pininfarina. Produced for a short period of two years between 1966 and 1968, the 330 GTC quickly turned into a popular Ferrari for those seeking for a quieter and smoother ride. It has been stated that this "was probably the first Ferrari in which you could actually enjoy a radio". This fascinating Ferrari 330 GTC of which only 598 cars were ever made is as mint and pristine as it gets, just like the discontinued Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15300ST on our wrist.
This 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC in one of our favorite colors the 'Nocciola Metallizzato' —metallic hazelnut– is a successor to the Ferrari 250GT and 275 GTS sharing the short wheelbase of the 275 as well as its independent rear suspension. Equipped with a 12-cylynder engine this 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC is one of the most iconic automobiles we have ever featured here.
Experience: Galleria Ferrari. The Museum of the 'Cavallino Rampante' in Maranello.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of Enzo Ferrari —August 14th, 1988— we decided to pull these pictures from our archives and present you a short overview of the magnificent Galleria Ferrari.
Ferrari was founded in 1929 by Enzo Ferrari but it was not until 1947 that the first street legal Ferraris where launched. The first Ferrari to hit the streets was the 125 Sport fitted with a V12 engine. Today, Ferrari automobiles are generally seen as a symbol of speed, luxury and wealth. A visit to the Galleria Ferrari is a must for any watchlifestyler that appreciates the fine making of Ferrari. Located at Dino Ferrari 43 in Maranello, just a stone’s throw away from the Ferrari factory, this place is true treat to the eyes and a place where history is well showcased
Experience: 1952 Hudson Hornet. Black and Cream Just like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Safari.
The Hudson Hornet is an automobile that was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit for three years between 1951 and 1954 and then produced between 1955 and 1957 by the now long gone American Motors Corporation —AMC. In case you don't know who AMC was, they were the company behind two of the ugliest cars ever built in the seventies, the Pacer and the Gremlin.
Last Saturday, we stumbled upon this beautiful 1952 Hudson Hornet during a rainy afternoon in Dallas, Texas. As we were driving by the affluent Preston Hollow area, this gorgeous automobile caught our eye and brought us back in time to 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. During the late 50s and early 60s many police departments throughout the U.S. —including the Dallas Police Department— stocked Hudson Hornets as their police cars.
Experience: Aston Martin Rapide S and a Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX2 DBS Transponder.
Combining an instantly recognizable design with exceptional technology, the Aston Martin Rapide S embodies all that is great about Aston Martin, just like the Jaeger-LeCoultre AMOVX2 DBS Transponder. A watch that can be used to open or close your Aston Martin while pressing on the crystal at 9 and 3 o'clock respectively. The Aston Martin Rapide S is an automobile where power is not compromised by the level of luxury you get. The Rapide S is agile, balanced and controlled. A near perfect 48:52 front/rear weight distribution means Rapide S is unique, a true sports car with four-doors allowing four passengers to experience the power and the comfort of this unique machine.
Experience: DeLorean DMC-12 with a Stainless Steel Satin Brushed Body Just as Good as that on an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
If you were a tween or a teenager in the early 80s, you probably dreamed of owning a DeLorean and feeling just like Marty McFly while traveling in time in the 1985 blockbuster movie 'Back to the Future' directed by Robert Zemeckis. The DeLorean DMC-12 by DeLorean Motor Company marked an era like very few other automobiles had and remained engrained in our minds like one of those dreams that you want to dream over and over again. With its futuristic design, fitted with a stainless steel satin brushed finish body —fiberglass underneath— and its iconic gull-wing doors, the DeLorean broke the rules of car design, but unlike the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, DMC didn't master the rules before breaking them. The DeLorean DMC-12 was manufactured only for a very brief period of time by John DeLorean's DeLorean Motor Company between 1981 and 1982 in a small town southwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Now, one thing that can be comparable between the DeLorean DMC-12 and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is the satin brushed finish on their stainless steel.
Encounter: Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 'Pagoda'. A Saturday Afternoon Classic.
Nothing like summers here in Chicago. Chicagoans often say that withstanding the harsh winters is just worth it because of the amazing summers we have in the Windy City. After moving from New York City to Chicago five years ago, we now fully understand why people say that.
On a perfect Saturday evening, we stumbled upon this amazing classic car. This is an automobile perfectly suited for an summer evening joy ride. The Mercedes-Benz 280 SL —a.k.a. W113 'Pagoda'— was introduced in 1967 as a successor to the 230 SL and the 250 SL and was in production for just four years. Afterwards, it was replaced by the entirely new 350 SL. Over the years, the W113 evolved from a sports roadster to a comfortable grand tourer.
The Mercedes-Benz 280 SL, along with its predecessors, is perhaps one of the most classic cars from the sixties and early seventies. This beautiful example in teal blue with cream interiors, definitely caught our eye while wearing our 'fancy car magnet' Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver.
This Mercedes-Benz 280 SL circa 1969 is a two-door roadster coupé with a soft-top and an optional slightly concave hardtop —hence the nickname 'Pagoda'. It was only sold between 1963 and 1971 –just a year short of the launch of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo. Fitted with a six-cylinder engine that outputs 170 hp, this car is classic, elegant and a joy to drive.
The exquisite lines of this car and its amazing condition provide unparalleled eye candy to any watchlifestyler passing by. The iconic Mercedes-Benz three spoke star is a synonym of class, luxury and amazing design just like the double baton at 12 o'clock on an Audemars Piguet timepiece. Enjoy the rest of the pictures of this amazing looking car.
Pre-owned Sticker Price for one like this in such excellent condition, anywhere between $35,000-$75,000 USD. Becoming more and more scarce as time goes by.
Encounter: Porsche 911 circa 1966. A Glimpse of the Past.
A few days ago, while driving around our old neighborhood trying to find a parking spot, we ran into one of our all-time favorite automobiles, a legendary Porsche 911 from the 1960s. This Porsche 911 circa 1966, is still in very nice condition and running strong and loud as any 911 should be.
After parking our own Porsche, we decided to then snap a few pictures to record this memorable encounter. The watch on our wrist an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver. It's really crazy how often we run into fancy cars while wearing this watch. From now on, we should call our Diver the 'fancy car magnet'.
Porsche launched the 911 back in 1963 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. At that time, the 911 was originally called 901; however, Peugeot objected the use of the name 901 and Porsche changed it to what is now the most iconic number in automobiles, the '911'.
In 1965, the production of the 911 a.k.a. 356 was stopped, and the 912 was launched. The 912 was a less expensive model featuring a four-cylinder engine from the last 356s and was less luxurious than the 911. This 1966 model we stumbled upon, is still a 911 that maintained the same line and details of the first 911s up until 1970, year in which the new line of 911s was released.
This particular vintage Porsche is fitted with all original parts and its black paint is still in very decent shape considering the age of the vehicle. Nothing like fancy timepieces and fancy cars to enjoy the 'good life'.
For more info on Porsche click here.
Experience: Museo Lamborghini in Sant'Agata Bolognese
Driving our way through Italy, all the way from Venezia down to Rome, we decided to briefly stop at Sant'Agata Bolognese —the birthplace of Lamborghini—and visit the 'Museo Lamborghini'. Sant'Agata Bolognese is a small community located east of Modena and about 38 kilometers northwest of Bologna. The 'Museo Lamborghini' is located adjacent to the factory on Via Modena and a must-see for watch lifestylers that appreciate automobiles. The 'Museo Lamborghini' offers a unique collection of vintage Lamborghinis that clearly show the evolution and history of this automaker.
At the museum you will be able to appreciate some of the most iconic Lamborghini machines ever made, all the way from a Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 Superleggera to a Espada, a Countach 25th Anniversary Edition—only 658 pieces made—, a few Miuras and a LM002, amongst others.
Next to the 'Museo' by the factory side, we came across a beautiful Lamborghini Murcielago in carbon fiber that was just remarkable. As you make your way out of the 'Museo' you will find the Lamborghini store. A must shop type of place. Get plenty of Super Trofeo merchandise with Blancpain's logo on it. After taking off from Sant'Agata, stop by for a delicious meal at Gran Torino and experience the amazing Northern Italian cuisine in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region. A visit that is well worth it.
