Blogs

In the two decades-plus since the finalized version of the Bugatti Veyron debuted in 2005, the quad-turbo W16 that powered it has remained peerless through several special editions and duty in the Chiron, where it made the French hypercar the first production automobile to break the 300-mph barrier.

In 2022, Bugatti announced that the W16’s swan song was the Mistral, a $5 million topless roadster replete with nods to Bugatti’s rich heritage, including a wrapped windshield à la the 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid and a “dancing elephant”-adorned shifter.

The new Bugatti W16 Mistral Blanc Éternel from the Sur Mesure customization division, in its own way, serves as an ultimate tribute to the Bugatti W16’s eternal legacy by focusing on an otherwise forgotten Veyron special edition named L’Or Blanc, a pottery-inspired interpretation of the Veyron Grand Sport created in partnership with historied German porcelain maker Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin. The Veyron not only mimicked the white lines and continuous royal-blue strokes of a vase designed for KPM by the celebrated Italian designer Enzo Mari, it actually featured specially fired porcelain inlays on the wheel badges, fuel filler cap, and the “EB” badge at the rear.

Similarly, KPM provided porcelain punctuations for the W16 Mistral Blanc Éternel inside and out, including the EB emblem, the fuel and oil caps, the speaker cover plate, two kneepad inlays, gearshifter, center-console armrest inlay, and the window-lifter buttons. The grandest porcelain element, though, might be the two inlays incorporated into the engine cover, which features KPM’s royal scepter logo.

Embedding porcelain into a finely engineered automotive form—which, unlike the Veyron L’Or Blanc, was created digitally using a network of precisely controlled surfaces called NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines)—presents challenges that can only be overcome by the type of expansive experience and knowledge offered by KPM. Porcelain contracts slightly upon being fired in a kiln, meaning its dimensions after curing differ by 17% from those of the original unfired component. Therefore, engineers had to anticipate the shrinkage during the modeling and development process.

Before anyone sees the porcelain components, their gaze will be drawn first to the body, which features a pure white base coat accented by flowing black lines created with precisely applied tape. After being carefully positioned by hand, the lengths of tape were removed to expose the intended design, and the resulting channels were sprayed in black. This interplay of black and white is designed to direct the eye across the W16 Mistral’s signature features, from its reimagined horseshoe grille and sculpted front profile to the rising C-line, dramatic air intakes, and fantastic X-shaped taillight arrangement.

Bugatti Design Director Frank Heyl, who helped hand-paint the L’Or Blanc years ago, reflected on both one-of-one hypercars: “The W16 Mistral Blanc Éternel is exceptionally beautiful because every line and every material has a purpose. Our ambition for this unique commission saw us dive deeply into the essence of the Veyron Grand Sport L’Or Blanc and write its next chapter through the entirely digital design language of the W16 Mistral. Bringing the car to life required an intricate collaboration between our Bugatti design team in Berlin and the experts and leadership at KPM. Blanc Éternel respects Bugatti’s history without being constrained by it, fusing our heritage with individual taste in a way that feels wholly new. That is the beauty of Sur Mesure, in creating something authentic and timeless that could belong to no one else.”

To commemorate the renewed partnership, KPM and Bugatti have also created a limited-edition Blanc Éternel porcelain collection featuring KPM’s iconic Aviator Cup and To-Drive travel cup in two sizes. While prices weren’t listed, the collection is limited to 1,000 handmade pieces—head to KPM’s website for more on the dishware.

As for the car, its destiny is uncertain. The Veyron Grand Sport L’Or Blanc hasn’t been seen since it was reportedly sold to a private buyer shortly after its 2011 unveiling, so don’t be surprised if the W16 Mistral Blanc Éternel becomes a secret crown jewel of a collection that may never emerge on the aftermarket.

250 years of American independence surely deserves a toast, or perhaps a new addition to your watch collection via a duo of suitably festive Breitling timepieces via the America250 Avenger collection.

The duo bridges both field-ready and rugged utility with the watchmaker’s characteristic tilt towards aviation-minded performance. “For 250 years, America has stood for independence, courage, and the drive to move forward,” Breitling said in debuting the limited-edition collection. “The America250 Avenger models commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the United States in the colors of the stars and stripes.” Each watch pops in vibrant fashion with hits of red, white and blue throughout, delivering Breitling’s signature sport-meets-luxury aesthetic just in time for the Fourth of July weekend.

Both models take their USA-made inspiration quite seriously, featuring sharp, dressy blue dials, contrasting indices and distinct red contrast stitching on their respective straps. Both offer suitable variety for the watch enthusiast and patriot, as the Avenger B01 Night Mission Chronograph boasts triple-chronograph functionality and the Avenger Automatic America250 serves up military-inspired design.

Priced at $9,700 and limited to 50 pieces to honor each state in the country, the Avenger B01 Night Mission Chronograph features a caseback engraved with both the Liberty Bell and the inscription “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”

The other half of the America250 Avenger collection, the Avenger Automatic, clocks in at $5,100 in a run of just 250 timepieces. And while watchmakers like Bremont are also honoring America’s 250th anniversary, Breitling is the only watchmaker to work with the America250 organization itself.

The impressive watch duo is but one way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in collectible fashion, but it might be the most distinctive in the watch world. Within the Night Mission Chronograph, for instance, keen observers will note that the titanium outer ring bears 50 engraved stars and a “ONE OF 50″ inscription alongside the official America250 logo. To bolster your watch collection and celebrate the country in illustrious fashion, consider the America250 Avenger collection while horological supplies last.

Pack your denim cut-offs and grab your bug spray, because Camp Firewood is open for business once again. Focus Features has announced a special 25th-anniversary nationwide re-release of the beloved cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer, hitting theaters for a limited run from August 14-21.

Directed by David Wain and co-written with Michael Showalter, the 2001 film features a remarkable ensemble cast of comedy heavyweights, including Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, and Janeane Garofalo in the zany spoof of vintage summer camp comedies like Bill Murray’s Meatballs. Now, audiences across America can relive the camp chaos on the big screen.

The anniversary celebration kicks off on August 8 with Los Angeles’ Street Food Cinema hosting the Official 25th Anniversary Reunion. A massive outdoor screening will feature a live panel with Wain, Banks, Joe Lo Truglio, and Marguerite Moreau, as well as a live performance by the Wet Hot Jam Band and exclusive merchandise from Focus Features’ roaming F-Stop Airstream. On August 17, Alamo Drafthouse hosts 25th Anniversary Parties at ten beer-fueled theaters. Each ticket includes a commemorative t-shirt, a retro red headband, and a specially themed menu. Check out the 25th anniversary poster and trailer here.

For fans of The Smiths—or any of the many legacy rock bands that cite Johnny Marr’s clean arpeggiated riffs and galloping acoustic accompaniments as highly influential—there’s a Christie’s sale that demands attention.

The post-punk progenitor is partnering with the British auction house to sell approximately 80 guitars acquired over the Smiths’ short-lived but widely celebrated career in the 1980s and Marr’s prolific efforts since, which include membership in the Pretenders, The The, Electronic and Modest Mouse, as well as collaborations with Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry, Beck, Hans Zimmer, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Noel Gallagher, Billie Eilish, Blondie, Gorillaz, and Franz Ferdinand. Christie’s reports that several of the instruments were played during the recording of Marr’s recently announced solo album, The Age Of Everything, due out October 2.

“I have loved guitars for as long as I can remember, since the first one I got at the age of five,” Marr said in a statement. “Each guitar I have acquired over the past 50 years or so has helped me evolve as a musician, bringing new songs, new sounds and techniques.”

“Writing Marr’s Guitars in 2023″—Marr continued, referencing his retrospective photobook—”gave me the perfect excuse to bring all of these instruments together, to tell their stories, revisit the songs, shows and unforgettable moments they’ve brought me, and that I’ve shared with remarkable people in studios and on stages around the world. The book turned out to be a cathartic experience and when it was time for these beautiful instruments to go back into storage, I couldn’t imagine them being put away and left unplayed. It’s bittersweet to be parting with these guitars but I want them to go to new homes and new people who will love them as much as I have. I hope they bring as much joy, inspiration and fun—and new songs—as they have given me.”

Admirably, Marr will donate 100 percent of the hammer price of 10 lots—which also feature select amps and other equipment—to benefit The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society. How much cash those charities actually receive depends on which lots’ proceeds are donated, as the few previously announced valuations range from thousands to well into six figures.

Headlining is a 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 ($132,000–$198,000) that was reportedly purchased in New York by Sire Records founder Seymour Stein in response to a quip by Marr, who said that the Smiths would sign to Stein’s label if he bought him a guitar. According to Christie’s, the 355 inspired Marr to write the music for the classic 1984 single “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” and its b-side “Girl Afraid” that same day.

Another Gibson, a 1984 Les Paul crafted in Cherry, ($105,600–$158,400) was acquired in fall of 1984 for The Smiths’ album Meat Is Murder. The instrument, modified with a Bigsby vibrato, was recorded for the tracks “The Headmaster Ritual,” “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore” and “What She Said.” Maybe even more poignantly, Marr played this Les Paul on the final song of what would be the Smiths’ last ever show in December 1986.

On the other end of the Smiths’ timeline is Marr’s 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo ($79,200–$105,600), which was used extensively during the recording of The Smiths’ eponymous debut album and served as Marr’s main guitar on the band’s early tours—its distinctive sounds ring out on “What Difference Does It Make?” “This Charming Man,” “Still Ill,” and “Accept Yourself.” In 1994, the legendary Rickenbacker appeared on the cover of Oasis’ debut single “Supersonic” after Marr lent the guitar to Noel Gallagher during early recording sessions for Definitely Maybe.

While bidding doesn’t start until September 17 in London, Marr will be plenty busy touring in support of his fifth solo album, with his live performances culminating in his biggest solo show at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on October 24.