Latest Review
I’ve been a pretty big fan of the Autodromo Prototipo watches since they were first released in 2013. Simply put, they are one of the best releases of the last couple of years, with pitch perfect styling and razor sharp execution. Their vintage aesthetic just nails the look and feel of 60’s and 70’s racing chronographs, but with enough twists and turns to make them distinctly Autodromo. I recommend reading our lengthy review here, if you are unfamiliar with the watches. One such twist was that when they were initially released, there was a limited edition version dedicated to Vic Elford, a renowned driver of the Prototype-era. The watch, which featured a 3-eye chronograph, some very stylized coloration based on Mr. Elford’s Porsche 907 paint job, sold out almost immediately upon release.
Following the success of the Elford, Autodromo has teamed up with another iconic driver of the prototype era for a new limited edition watch. The Brian Redman Edition commemorates both the driver, Mr. Redman, and his incredible victory in 1969 at Nurburgring. From Autodromo’s release:
“Brian Redman’s remarkable racing career encompassed one of the most exciting and dangerous eras in motorsport. From the mid 1960s through the late 1970s, Redman drove to victory in many of the greatest cars of the period, from the Ford GT40 to the Porsche 908 and 917, as well as the Ferrari 312 PB, Alfa Tipo 33 and BMW CSL. His popularity and skill as a driver is one of the few things Porsche fans and Ferrari fans can agree on, and his roster of team mates reads like a who’s who of the Prototype Era. In addition to his illustrious career in endurance racing, Brian was also Formula 5000 champion 3 times in a row from 1974-1976. A living legend, Brian continues to be involved directly with vintage racing, and still can be seen behind the wheel of many of his former racing machines.”
The Redman stays true to the Prototipo design, featuring a Panda dial with a couple hints of color to make it pop. The main index has been altered on this model to have a classic racing style, like what you’d fine on an Omega Speedster MKII Racing-Dial, immediately giving it an energized look. Relating to the Porsche 908 that was driven to win the Nurburgring race, the dial has a bold red line encircling the index, and a bright green chromo-seconds hand. It just screams racing. The watch’s finishing touch is on the back, where the map of the Nurburgring track along with some tasteful art, and “Brian Redman 1969” have been etched.
Like the Elford, it utilizes the 3-register Seiko Meca-Quartz VK63 movement, where as the non-limited watches always have the 2-register VK64 movement, the additional register being active seconds. The watch itself is a limited edition of 500 units, 100 in gold plating and 400 in steel, priced at $1200 and $775 respectively. Each watch also comes with a signed 42-page booklet. It’s worth noting that this is the first time Autodromo has released a gold plated watch, and given it’s price and exclusivity, I imagine it’s intended for the hardcore Brian Redman fan. For me, while the gold has a certain panash, the steel model is the winner. That red circle around the three black sub-registers is just so aggressive and awesome, the cool steel emphasizing the sudden shock of color… it’s hypnotic.
The Brian Redman Prototipos are available for pre-order today, and will be shipping soon. Check them out here: AUTODROMO WATCHES
