In 2019, I was working at Sotheby’s Auction House. At that point, I’d been in the art industry for the better part of 10 years and felt as if I’d seen it all. Then, one morning, as I walked through our York Avenue lobby, a brilliant sparkle nearly blinded me. It was an encased 18-karat-gold Ford GMT model—which eventually sold for $75,000, far above its high estimate.
When I think about autosports and luxury, I’m often taken back to the mesmerizing image of that morning. They go together like cigars and whiskey, like Peyton and Eli on Manningcast. Autosports enthusiasts love a stylish accessory crafted with sleek Lamborghini-like lines, or a high-end timepiece with the athleticism of Pirelli slicks. Luxury gifts for autosports fans are only natural. Here, we’ve rounded up a handful of the very best.
Art and Decor for Autosports Fans
Photo by Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren McLaren F1 LM
Ralph Lauren Home offers some excellent automotive models from Amalgam. However, the McLaren F1 LM stands out from the rest thanks to that iconic orange hue. Modeled after the F1 GTR that won the Le Mans endurance race on its first try, this hand-constructed piece of art is scrupulously scanned to ensure a precise 1:18 scale.
Photo by TASCHEN
TASCHEN Ferrari Limited Edition
I first saw this exquisite piece at Manhattan’s Ferrari showroom, where I was gently scolded for recording where I wasn’t supposed to be (those troublesome content creators). No art publisher has mastered the book-as-art-installation like TASCHEN has. This hand-built, leather-bound tome, which features hundreds of photographs from Ferrari and private collectors, sits in a case mimicking a Ferrari motor. It was designed by Gagosian-repped designer Marc Newson and is made of cast aluminum, sandblasted chrome, and red varnish straight from Ferrari themselves.
Photo by F1 Authentics
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Brake Disk Clock
This wall clock, made from re-engineered brake disks from Mercedes’ Silver Arrows racing cars, is the definition of industrial chic. It also allows you to own a piece of Mercedes’ 2014–2021 golden era. Like art, each clock is different due to the individual wear of the carbon disks. The mix of silver and Tiffany blue accents is elegant and provides legibility.
Photo by F1 Authentics
McLaren F1 Team 2021 Small Wheel Nut Lamp
This McLaren F1 Lamp reminds me of a Scandinavian-style room, with one stylishly exposed brick wall. By that, I mean it’s functionally minimal with a pop of aesthetic—not a pop of color or a pop of pattern, but added character via the used McLaren F1 wheel nut. It’s industrial enough for such a room but antiquey and masculine enough for a classic, oak-clad study as well. I can see it on the same desk as a gold banker’s lamp.
Watches for Autosports Fans
Photo by Porsche
Porsche Design Sport Chrono Subsecond 42
Yes, the Chronograph 1 is Porsche Design’s local icon. However, the new, more minimal Sport Chrono Subsecond is more versatile while still maintaining Porsche’s slick, sporty composition. It’s less cosmetically function-forward, and the handsomely satined dial gives it a touch of dressiness. Moreover, the negative space in the hooded lugs add delicacy without compromising the strong silhouette. This chrono is simply a beautifully balanced luxury sports watch.
Photo by Yema
Yema Rallygraf
Between the racing flag emblem serving as a coat of arms and the dynamic subdial cut-outs, the Rallygraf is categorically charming. The retro-cool design is inspired by vintage car dashboards—and the only people more nostalgic than watch guys are car guys. My favorite part is the meca-quartz movement, which combines quartz accuracy with a smooth chronograph second hand. You can have it all.
Photo by Breitling
Breitling Top Time B01 Chevrolet Corvette
Breitling’s Top Time subline boasts partnerships with a few big automotive names, including Shelby Cobra and Ford Mustang. Still, I’m struck hard by the B01 Chevrolet Corvette’s squircle subdials against the Sting Ray racer red. This timepiece is a reformatting of the aerodynamic second-generation Corvette, beloved among autosports enthusiasts as a civilianized version of the 1959 racer prototype. And just as the Corvette ran on an exceptional engine, this watch runs on the powerful 70-hour Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01.
Photo by The Bradford Exchange
The Bradford Exchange Ford Mustang Watch
The best Ford Mustang gear displays both the galloping pony and the Mustang moniker—the cursive one based on Henry Ford’s handwriting. (Lay it on thick, I say.) Leave it to the limited-edition specialists over at Bradford Exchange to serve up a dapper, well-made timepiece for the Mustang enthusiast in your life.
Style and Accessories for Autosports Fans
Photo by Jan Leslie
Jan Leslie Formula One Cufflinks
From a distance, these hand-painted ornaments shine no differently than colored gems. Still, the way the silver structure runs through the painted parts makes them look like gems that might be intriguingly, complicatedly set. This will almost always prompt others to want to get a closer look at this delightfully playful set.
Photo by Miller Motor Cars
Aston Martin DBX Picnic Blanket
Picnic or camp in style with this efficiently packed blanket. Like a DBX, the supple leather holder is exceptionally engineered and crafted. Form and function don’t need to compromise each other. You also have to appreciate the flawlessly embossed Aston Martin logo. The wings represent performance and freedom, apropos of outdoor adventures.
Photo by FWRD
Rhude x Automobili Lamborghini Pique Polo Shirt
Because of its focus on innovation, Lamborghini’s designs somehow manage to be perpetually contemporary. This makes Rhude a perfect collaboration partner, thanks to the brand’s seamless merger of luxury techniques with modern streetwear. This shirt’s crossover appeal is rooted in Rhude’s and Lamborghini’s unique abilities to be classic but different. It exudes the unstuffy preppiness of a rugby shirt, the resort luxury vibe of a popover, and an urban cool factor via its bold lines and sporty details.
Photo by Saks Fifth Avenue
Balmain Formula 1 Cap
This cap works on multiple levels. Modern designers like Virgil Abloh brought the letterman aesthetic onto the runways. Sport this hat and be prepared for fashionistas to awe at your discerning ability to choose relevantly from Balmain’s glamorous offerings. And, of course, embroidered patches are racer-gear practical. Fellow autosports fans will enjoy seeing the look off the race tracks, too.
Photo by Koenigsegg
Koenigsegg Braided Bracelet
Nothing says tasteful finery like a simple yet artful design built from traditional, luxury materials. This Italian silk bracelet is gracefully woven, delivering a fascinating finish that sits somewhere between matte and gloss, toggled with a precious metal Koenigsegg coat of arms. The limited edition purple-and-gold is downright aristocratic, but each variation is stately in its own right.
Photo by Kith
Kith for BMW Vitality Keychain
Fashion enthusiasts, car lovers, hypebeasts, and luxury investors are always looking for pieces from Kith’s 2022 BMW collaboration. The Vitality keychain is a relatively attainable piece from the collection that pops up on secondary markets. I love the combined branding. It’s not traditionally double-signed, the logos are literally merged. BMW actually let Kith sign within their logo.
