The Top Time is a true classic, even by Breitling standards and has been one of the brand’s coolest re-issues of the past few years. And there have been a lot of reissues. But this being Breitling, they’ve not been too precious about the design, first with a collaboration with motorbike-centric lifestyle brand Deus Ex Machina, now with a trio of automotive-inspired colourways. This is the Breitling Top Time Classic Car capsule collection.
Two of the new pieces are the same in different liveries; the last is a slight variation inside and out. The overriding theme though is colour, specifically taken from 1960s automotive classics built around the same time as the original Top Time models.
So, we have the red and black of the 1960s Corvette C2 ‘Stingray’, the green and brown of the 1964 Ford Mustang and, finally, the legendary Shelby Cobra in a distinctive blue and brown. It’s a trio of serious American classics and make for some handsome colourways for the racing chronograph.
The changes follow through of course to the movement too. The green and red – that’s the Mustang and Stingray – are equipped with the ever-solid Breitling calibre 25 with a 42-hour power reserve. The Cobra uses the calibre 41. Other than a difference in size, the movements have exactly the same specs – a 42-hour power reserve and 4 hertz heartbeat.
Finished with the relevant logos front and back, the Top Time Classic Car models are good-looking riffs on a model as much an icon as the cars they’re inspired by. They’re not ground-breaking and honestly, I still prefer the straight-up re-issue, but I can imagine a fair few petrolheads opting for their favourite liveried member of the trio.
That all said, my opinions on the matter may well change once we get hands-on with the models – which we will be doing imminently. Keep an eye out for that. In the meantime, it’s just good to see the Top Time being given a new lease of life.
Price & Specs:
Model: Breitling Top Time Classic Cars Squad
Reference: A25310241K1X1 (“Top Time Chevrolet Corvette”, red dial)
A253101A1L1X1 (“Top Time Ford Mustang”, green dial)
A41315A71C1X2 (“Top Time Shelby Cobra”, blue dial)
Case/Dial: 42mm diameter x 13.85mm height, stainless steel case (red or green dial models)
40mm diameter x 13.3mm height, stainless steel case (blue dial model)
Water resistance: 100m (10 bar)
Movement: Breitling calibre 25, automatic, COSC-certified chronometer, 21 jewels (red or green dial models)
Breitling Caliber 41, automatic, COSC-certified chronometer, 38 jewels (blue dial model)
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 42h
Functions: Hour, minute, second, 1/4th of a second chronograph, 30-minute chronograph counter
Strap: Black or brown calfskin leather
Price/availability: TBC
More details at Breitling.
