Autodromo’s Group B watch evokes the ‘last romantic era of motorsport’

Autodromo’s retro timepieces have, until now, taken direct inspiration from classic cars and motorsport of the ’50s and ’60s. Its latest model, though, is a homage to the wild Group B rally era of the ’80s, and is a novel time-only watch with several quirky design cues…

An era of excess

Utilising a handmade Japanese Miyota automatic movement with around 42 hours of reserve power, the Group B watch from Autodromo boasts a slender 39mm two-part case, with angular lugs reminiscent of the boxy rally machines of the 1980s. Like those monstrous glassfibre-bodied cars, the watch is feather-light, weighing a scant 52g, and the symmetrical dial emulates that of the Lancia 037. Available in a plethora of vibrant colours, the Group B watch comes with two nylon straps – featuring yellow Autodromo logos stitched on the inside, just like racing harnesses – and costs 925 US dollars. Whether or not it spits flames and emanates turbo whistles is another question altogether.

Photos: Autodromo