The 34th edition of the Mille Miglia classic car race begins on May 19 in scenic Brescia, Italy, with more than 400 teams set to traverse the one-thousand-mile distance to Rome and back. As has been the case since 1988, Chopard co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, a passionate racecar driver, collector and a car enthusiast, will also join the speedy motorcade, this year alongside his long-time friend Jacky Ickx in a Porsche 550 Spyder RS. The competition is reserved for classic and vintage cars that have raced in one of the historical races between 1927 and 1957.
As is the case each year, more than a few of the participants will be wearing the latest Chopard Mille Miglia chronograph.
This year’s models are issued in two limited editions. One includes 1,000 pieces in stainless steel and the other 100 pieces in rose gold. These Mille Miglia 2016 XL Race Editions are powered by a new Chopard caliber, 03.05-C, a COSC-certified column-wheel chronograph. You may recall that 2015 marked the first year Chopard fitted its own Chopard-manufactured calibers into Mille Miglia models.
Surrounded with a tachymetric scale, the dial’s retro layout recalls vintage dashboards and ensures maximum readability with large numerals and luminescent hands. The 46mm model is the largest of the Mille Miglia chronographs created thus far by Chopard. The calfskin leather straps for both series’ are inspired by the leather tie-down straps on a racecar bonnet.
Prices
Mille Miglia 2016 XL Race Edition in stainless steel: $ 9,800
Mille Miglia 2016 XL Race Edition in rose gold: $ 24,200