An ode to classic sports cars from the 1960s, the Breitling Top Time Classic Cars Capsule Collection derives inspiration from three American greats. The iconic Chevrolet Corvette, the Ford Mustang, and Shelby Cobra are reinterpreted as modern-retro timepieces, with each a nod to the original 1960s Breitling Top Time models. “It’s about the journey, not the tempo,” says Breitling CEO Georges Kern. “And that’s true whether you’re tinkering under the hood or hitting the road for a Sunday ride celebrating these beautiful machines.”
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Fusing bold aesthetic appeal with motoring touches, each chronograph dial is rendered in a striking shade, with orange and yellow or red and blue details. Each dial takes its hue from the signature colour of the car that inspired it. Red and black for the Chevrolet Corvette, green and brown for the Ford Mustang, and blue and brown for the Shelby Cobra.
Breitling Top Time Chevrolet Corvette
Rendered in red with black subdials, the 42mm Breitling Top Time Chevrolet Corvette is powered by a Breitling Caliber 25, a self-winding ⅛-second movement with a 42 hour power reserve. Inspired by the second generation Chevrolet Corvet, the timepiece features the car’s logo beneath Brietling’s at 12 o’clock, as well as on the caseback. In keeping with the sharp red and black colour scheme, the Breitling Top Time Chevrolet Corvette has a black racing strap, adding to its sporty, dynamic appearance.
Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang
A particular favourite, the Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang matches the Top Time Chevrolet Corvette in size, with a 42mm case. This timepiece draws from the 1964 Ford Mustang, a car that heralded a new genre of compact and affordable sportscars. A mainstay on the silver screen, the Ford Mustang is a decidedly iconic vehicle and the Breitling interpretation does it justice. Like the Chevrolet Corvette iteration, it’s powered by a Breitling Caliber 25 and features a tachymeter scale with three black contrasting subdials, with the Ford Mustang logo sitting at 12 o’clock. With a brown racing strap and forest green colour palette, it exudes a slightly more vintage feel.
Breitling Top Time Shelby Cobra
Marking a slight departure from the theme, the Breitling Top Time Shelby Cobra is fitted with a slightly smaller 40mm case. With two subdials and a white tachymeter, the Shelby Cobra logo takes pride of place at 6 o’clock. While still bold in its own right, the Breitling Top Time Shelby Cobra is comparatively understated when compared to the other two references in the capsule; perhaps fittingly as it’s the only classic car of the trio to combine British design with American racing engineering. Created by Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby in 1962, the Shelby Cobra paired a small, light chassis with a hefty American big-block engine. With this in mind, Breitling captures the duality of the car in the Breitling Top Time Shelby Cobra.
Words by John Deckard
