Introducing L’Epée Time Fast II in Chrome: A Horological Speedster Serving a Taste of 60s Race Car Design
5 min read
"I build engines and attach wheels to them", said a man who penned down an automotive love story in 1947 that continues to tickle the spines of petrolheads even to this date.
It is Enzo Ferrari we are talking about and we know the man best for his red supercars that drive faster than the wind.
Translating the automotive allure into a clock-sized contraption with beguiling aesthetics replicating the scintillating curves of 1960s race cars is the fabled Swiss clock manufacture L'Epée introducing its second car-inspired timepiece, the Time Fast II given a Silver Chrome treatment for 2023.
Encapsulating the epitome expression of automotive excellence, L'Epée gives us a taste of the fast lane with its new generation of car-inspired mechanical clocks this time getting a sleek and reflective Silver Chrome treatment. Just like this pristine finish is a seductive trend in motorhead heaven, it evokes a similar romantic charm in a table clock iteration designed for the purists.
A Kinetic Art Piece With A Sensual Design
The masterful execution of the popular automotive trend of chrome adorns the bodywork of the 450 mm long and 189 mm wide sophisticated timepiece which serves an aesthetic essence of the 60’s automotive icons.
Expressing Da Vinci’s philosophy, “Art and Science are two disciplines that must walk together hand in hand”, the Time Fast II in Chrome by L’Epée 1839 dares to captivate watch nerds and petrolheads alike with its horological sculpture fusion of design and mechanics.
This creation cements the fact that cars and watches do have the power to evoke passionate responses and make the inner child within us feel a rush of speed.
Time Fast II And Its Mechanical Hardware
Constructed on an aluminum H-chassis just like the race cars of the era it is inspired by, the Time Fast II in Chrome by L’Epée has a three-spoke steering wheel for setting the time. The clock is powered by a duo of movements, one for timekeeping duties and the other running an engine automat. The time displaying caliber displaying hours and minutes on the dual air filters feeding the V8’s two banks of carburetors has an 8-day power reserve and a 2.5 Hz escapement visible under the driver’s helmet.
An engine automat exhibits a racing V8 engine with its pistons replicating real strokes. This engine starting action is achieved by turning the dashboard keys. This orchestration of mechanical mastery showcasing the fiery action of a growling V8 is the result of an independent machine.
A special-mention deserving inception in this machine is a functional manual gear stick that selects the actions of time movement winding and powering the automat caliber achieved by turning the rear wheels.
Automotive Details Shine Bright in the Time Fast II in Chrome by L’Epée
The long-running allure of the symbiotic charms of watches and cars lives on with the Time Fast II in Chrome by L’Epée. Nuanced in its concept and mechanically irresistible, this sleek and sensual machine is sure a must-have for every petrolhead.
Technical specifications:
Dimensions: 450 mm long, 189 mm wide, 120 mm high
Weight: 4.7 kg
Functions:
Hour and minute displays on rotating disks
Time is set via counterclockwise rotation of the steering wheel, clockwise rotation repositions the steering wheel as desired
The clock is wound using the rear wheels
Reversing the car (and rotating the rear wheels) winds the mainspring barrels
A gear box lever selects which movement barrel is wound during winding
Time Fast II moves freely forwards and backwards in neutral.
The key on the dashboard starts the engine piston automat
Engine/movement
Tiered mechanical movement, L’Epée 1839 1855 MHD in-house caliber
Escapement: 2.5 Hz/18,000 bph
26 jewels
Power reserve: 8-days
Materials: Palladium-plated brass, polished stainless steel,
Incabloc protection system
Bodywork and wheels
Blown glass dome, machined and polished to simulate the driver’s helmet
Top and bottom bodywork in aluminum
12-spoked rims in stainless-steel
Tires in soft compound rubber with foam inside offering authentic deformation of the tire on the ground
MATERIALS & FINISHING
Materials: palladium-plated brass, stainless steel, anodized aluminium
Finishes: Polished, satin-finished and sand-blasted movement / polished and satin-finished rims / Silver chrome bodywork
