Watches by Matthew Humphries – now on Classic Driver

When he was design chief at Morgan, Matthew Humphries oversaw the return of the 3 Wheeler. Today, he designs his own watches, and his elegant timepieces are available in the Classic Driver Market…

From cars to watches

Regarded as a child prodigy on the British design scene, Matthew Humphries revealed his first car, the swooping Morgan Aeromax, at just 21 years old. But it was never just cars – alongside his duties at Morgan, he was also appointed the head of design at watch brand Lonville. Today, he runs MHD (Matthew Humphries Design) and, in cooperation with Penelope Jordan, creates his own timepieces, which he recently revealed to us when we visited his garage. The watches themselves are based on automatic Seikos, but are completely redesigned. They are pure and simple, and reminiscent of old military watches. Naturally, there are myriad automotive influences, too. We’re pleased to announce that all MHD’s watches can now be found for sale in the Classic Driver Market. 

Watches by MHD in the Classic Driver Market

Market | Watches

Matthew Humphries Design - MHD 01

EUR 451

Market | Watches

Matthew Humphries Design - MHD Watch of the Month September.

EUR 321

Market | Watches

Matthew Humphries Design - MHD 09

EUR 485

Market | Watches

Matthew Humphries Design - MHD 08

EUR 403

Market | Watches

Matthew Humphries Design - MHD 07

EUR 390

Market | Watches

Matthew Humphries Design - MHD 06

EUR 260

Market | Watches

Matthew Humphries Design - MHD 05

EUR 513

Market | Watches

Matthew Humphries Design - MHD 02

EUR 321

MARIA RIDING CG125 BELLADONNA

A few weeks ago a couple of us pitched up at flat track race school with the aim of learning how to back it in and drift like the pros. Excitement wained somewhat when we clocked eyes on the choice of machinery for the day, Honda XR125s. We were expecting flames, wheelies and bending the bars against the lock-stops. Needless to say, 125 cubic centimetres were plenty, and in some cases 50 too many. Ten grown men ragging around all day with smiles wider than turn one at the Springfield Mile.

The owner of this CG125 shares similar memories of seeking the most out of a diminutive single pot while he delivered pizza as a teenager. He must have ridden fast as eventually enough doughy goodness had been dispatched to afford a restaurant of his own, and later a chain of them. The loyal CG was run into the ground and finally parked at the back of the garage to await a rainy day and some TLC, that day didn’t arrive.

Rejuvenation came in the form of Luis, head honcho at Maria Riding Company based in Lisbon. Usually known for styling larger capacity machinery the guys in the workshop needed a bit of persuading to take on the CG project. After all, at this level a similar amount of hours go into a build, whether it be a chicken chaser or exotic track weapon. The sad looking 2002 donor was wheeled in a stripped bare to reveal the extent of abuse.

Luis and his crew had their work cut out as the little Honda had been in a few accidents and the frame wasn’t pretty. Once repaired and reinforced the subframe was looped in preparation for the new leather saddle and fuel tank. The stock CG tank is a good looking unit and is often transplanted onto larger NX650s and other scrambler projects but Luis wanted a more flowing shape so modded an SR125 tank instead.

In a bid for lightweight flick-ability the electrical system and battery were binned, replaced by a capacitor to power the essentials. There are lights fore and aft and that’s about it, and as a result the bright white bars are free from clutter and switchgear.

The ignition has been relocated behind the downtube, further neatening the cockpit. A simple mechanical speedo is fitted to keep the fun in check.

If you’ve seen other bikes from Maria Riding you’ll be familiar with their playful style, introducing splashes of colour wherever possible, in particular powder coating wheel rims. Another nice attention to detail is the liberal use of yellow passivation on the fastenings, essentially zinc plating but with a finish more pleasing on the eye. Against the polished engine cases and custom made stainless exhaust the torque arm, brake rod and various nuts and bolts look great.

To make the most of the new looks the mechanicals needed to join the party. New shocks out back and rebuilt forks deal with the suspension but the engine required further attention. After a lifetime spent at the end of a stretched throttle cable all was not well so the guys came through on the promise of some proper TLC. It was completely torn-down and rebuilt with new internals, gaskets and seals.

Once completed it was nearly impossible for the customer to get hold of the keys, everyone in the workshop wanted to have a go on BellaDonna and take that trip down memory lane to feel what it used to be like to ride free of weight, electronic interference and complication. Although with this much time and money spent a trip between cafés is more likely than delivering pizza.

via The Bike Shed

Maserati Boomerang – the eccentric icon that keeps coming back

“The Boomerang was perhaps the most irrational car Italdesign has ever built. Here, the move towards ever-more graphic shapes went too far: the Boomerang may be pleasing as a shape, but from an aerodynamic standpoint it is a contradiction in terms.”

Child of the revolution, 1972

For admirers of bold 1970s concept cars, the above statement about the 1972 Maserati Boomerang might seem a little harsh – even disrespectful. But the Lord himself had spoken: its creator, Giorgetto Giugiaro, had envisioned a wheeled wedge straight from the future, whether he was retrospectively unimpressed or not. It was revealed in 1972 much to the astonishment of Turin Motor Show-goers, even though they might have been desensitised to the radical design by its appearance in epowood form a year earlier. Now, after passing through a number of (seemingly equally eccentric) owners since then, it will go up for auction on 5 September 2015 at Bonhams’ inaugural sale at the Chantilly Arts & Elegance.

Testing the limits of feasibility

Giugiaro was in his mid-30s when he created the tapered design triumph. Before then, he had already created such classics as the Maserati Ghibli and De Tomaso Mangusta. The Boomerang was based on Bora underpinnings – a car whose angular silhouette already incorporated less-extreme Giugiaro trademarks – but the Italian’s intention this time around was to push the limits of feasibility as far as possible. He’d had some practice, too, penning the Alfa Romeo Caimano and Iguana studies, along with the VW-Porsche Tapiro.

Suited to everyday use

Borrowing its 4.7-litre, mid-mounted V8 from the Bora, the Boomerang boasts a generous glasshouse with angular side windows and a remarkably flat windscreen that tilts by only 13 degrees. Rather than scissor doors or gullwings, however, the Boomerang’s shallow doors are surprisingly conventional, being hinged on the side in the usual way. Giugiaro wanted the concept – unlike so many one-offs – to be genuinely roadworthy and capable of everyday use. This didn’t prevent the car from being spectacularly innovative, with such touches as the steering wheel that appears at the end of a large cylinder emerging from the dashboard. Contained in the front face of the cylinder are the main instruments and switches – a design that primarily aimed to protect the driver in the event of an accident. With more than 300HP and a top speed of almost 300km/h, modern drivers would not be disappointed by the performance of Giugiaro’s concept. One owner describes how, even after many years of ownership, he’d climb out of the Boomerang with a huge grin on his face – every time.

Inspiration for the VW Golf

The space-shuttle geometry of the Maserati Boomerang sparked enthusiasm and inspired many other car designs – as you can see all too clearly in the lines of the Lamborghini Countach. Indeed, Giugiaro himself played with the potential of this form language, with both the Lotus Esprit and De Lorean DMC-12 being variations on the theme – two models that, thanks to Hollywood (‘For Your Eyes Only’ and ‘Back to the Future’), have achieved cult status. If, however, you look closely at the Boomerang, you can – with a little imagination – dimly perceive the shape of the successor to theBeetle, the first Volkswagen Golf. Part of Giugiaro’s genius is that he not only mastered the art of creating dream cars, but the small, practical cars for the masses (such as the Fiat Panda) that also flowed from his pen.

A wedge returns

What did Giugiaro have in mind when he named his concept ‘Boomerang’? When you hurl this wedge into the wild blue yonder, it doesn’t return, surely? Yet, in its more than 40-year history, that is exactly what this unique car has done, time and again. After appearing at many motor shows in the early 1970s, it disappeared into private ownership and didn’t reappear until 1980 (a German enthusiast discovered it in Spain). At the 1990 Bagatelle Concours, it was reunited with its creator – where Giugiaro was delighted to leave his autograph on the car’s rear panel. Since then, the Boomerang has appeared (and won awards) at a great many world-class events, including Pebble Beach, the Christie’s auction at Rétromobile in Paris – and last year it was admired in Chantilly. And this year, the car’s current owner has decided that it’s time the Boomerang found a new, younger companion to continue its history. It will be offered for sale at Bonhams’ first Chantilly auction. 

Photos: Bonhams

You can find the Maserati Boomerang and all other lots from Bonhams’ auction at the 2015 Chantilly Arts & Elegance for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

Corsica Classic 2015 – set sail for the Isle of Beauty

This weekend, the classic sailboats of the Corsica Classic 2015 once again take to the seas. The six-day race runs from Ajaccio in western Corsica, past Bonifacio on the southern tip of the island and on to Porto-Vecchio.

Not without reason is Corsica called the ‘Isle of Beauty’...

Not without reason is Corsica called the ‘Isle of Beauty’: the rugged cliffs and sandy beaches leading up to a turquoise sea, the majestic mountains and the smell of the rampant vegetation, all these have fascinated Europeans for millennia. As part of the Corsica Classic 2015 (an annual regatta for historic sailboats that’s been held for the last five years), you can experience the beauty of the French Mediterranean island from the water. Last year, Classic Driver took part aboard L’Oiseau de Feu and can highly recommend the event.

Thirty-five historic boats take the start

This year, the boats start in Ajaccio on Sunday 23 August and put to sea heading for the Sanguinaire islands, Porto-Pollo and the Gulf of Valinco, down to Bonifacio and then on to Porto-Vecchio, the beach of Santa Giulia and the Lavezzi Islands. Corsica Classic will be held under the patronage of the Yacht Club of France. Since 2014, when 23 yachts took part, the popularity of the event has spread (perhaps helped by the good Corsican food?) and this year sees 35 boats take the start, including last year's winner SY Dorade, as well as a boat we particularly admire, the SY Olympian from Maine. The participants, meanwhile, come from France, Monaco, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, England, Argentina and the USA. We wish all those taking part plenty of fun and wind in their sails.

Photos: Jan Baedeker for Classic Driver © 2014

For more information on the Corsica Classic 2015, visit corsica-classic.com. You can find the ideal sailing yacht for next year’s regatta in the Classic Driver Market.