If you’re in the market for a vintage roadster that adds a new dimension of style and sophistication to your life, and you’re willing to throw reliability and modern amenities into the dumpster, then an Austin-Healey MkIII is an excellent choice. Crisp fall weekends on open roads will never be the same as you drop the top and cruise the boulevard behind that achingly gorgeous toothy grille. Since a good example of the MkIII is relatively affordable, you’ll be able to add the right gear and adorn yourself in the right garb to match your new British steed’s level of panache.
Belstaff Quilted Lightweight Jacket
Inspired by British Motorsport, this quilted car coat is made for cooler driving days in a drop-top. The quilted body is light but warm, and the soft velvet stand up collar keeps the breeze out. It’s made with navy quilted water resistant fabric, full 100 percent lining with light polyester fill, button pockets, and the kind of sophistication and heritage only Belstaff can deliver.
Grenson Dylan
Grenson makes the ideal British shoe, and the Dylan melds both traditional style with modern “rub off” grey leather that adds a subtle edge to an already handsome pair of kicks. The right amount of broguing and a slender profile give it just the right vintage style, commensurate with the air that the MkIII conveys even when standing still.
Christopher Ward C9 Harrison Jumping Hour MkII
Affordable prices don’t diminish the high style of Christopher Ward timepieces. With a crisp white dial and vintage style markers, backed by the reliability of an ETA 2824-2 automatic movement, the Jumping Hour MkII might just be one of the best jump hour watches on the market for a cut-rate price.
Alfred Dunhill Chestnut Pipe
What, you think you can drive a vintage British convertible without owning a tobacco pipe? Turn to the house of Alfred Dunhill to get one of their finest, the Chestnut. Made with rich, dark walnut, the Chestnut is crafted in a vintage shape that evokes an older time — when men were men and an after-drive smoke was the order of the evening.
Ashton Consummate Gentleman Gentleman Pipe Tobacco
If your car doesn’t draw enough attention from the neighbors, just light up this aromatic tobacco from Ashton. They’ll be flocking for a deeper whiff of the intoxicating English blend, which melds Virginia, Maryland, Latakai and Burley tobaccos. It’s a medium bodied smoke that’s mellow from start to finish.
Burberry Prorsum Stretch-Wool Tailored Trousers
Wool is the fabric of choice when it comes to great pants. Soft, warm and naturally odor-resistant, it’s both practical and very classy. Burberry’s Prorsum Tailored Trousers are slim cut and made with a virgin wool that’s been infused with stretchy elastane that allows for movement in the driver’s seat. But please avoid fast food drive-thrus while wearing these bespoke trousers.
Orvis Mechanic’s Foul Weather Vest
Quick apparel transition is a convertible driver’s best friend. When it goes from chilly to mild, you can lose the jacket without giving up all insulation with Orvis’s Foul Weather Vest, which frees up your arms while keeping your core warm but also ventilated with vest knit cotton. The faux suede trim helps you retain your style edge as you shift with all the skill of Jackie Stewart.
Corgi Royal Gurkha Rifles Socks
Your look is clearly conservative. Why not jazz it up in the sock department? Okay, you don’t want to go completely overboard with polka-dotted toe socks (you do still toast every first beer to Her Royal Majesty, after all), but the regimental stripes on Corgi’s Royal Gurkha Rifles Socks are bold enough for folks to take notice as you cross your legs at afternoon roadside tea. They’re 100 percent cotton and nearly as handsome as you are.
Smythson Eliot Collection Holdall
Your vintage roadster can’t hold much, but it’s got enough room for just the right kind of overnight luggage. Smythson’s Holdall will keep your extra things in check with soft taurillon leather, silver brass metal work and an impressive seven pockets to hold the small extra goodies, along with the names and phone numbers of car mechanics in your area.
Brixton Hooligan Herringbone Driving Cap
You may not have suede elbow pads on your jacket, but you are smart enough to wear the right British driving cap. Brixton’s Hooligan might not describe your driving style, but the herringbone cloth and the sleek shape do adequately speak to your impeccable taste.
