The Careful Restoration of Honda’s 1965 F1 Coveralls for Their 60th Anniversary

      **Jerry Perez**

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      You’re a car lover, and that’s why you’re here reading this. Whether your passion lies in beaters, normies, exotics, or another unique niche of the automotive world, it’s fair to say you appreciate the value of car culture. But what does car culture really mean, and how far does it extend? I won’t get overly sentimental or present an enthusiast's manifesto just days into the new year—it’s too soon for that. Instead, I’ll share a fascinating conversation I had about car culture in 2025, and I must admit, one aspect that made it so memorable was its unexpected nature.

      I’m referring to Patrick Calello and his venture, Honda Vintage Culture. You may have encountered his brand through social media ads, or perhaps you noticed it as a sponsor on one of the top racing podcasts, Beyond the Grid. Or maybe, just maybe, you haven’t come across it at all. If you stay with me, however, you’ll discover what makes Patrick a genuine innovator in car culture, as well as one of the coolest and most passionate racing fans I’ve ever met.

      Beyond his impressive background, I’m also going to share a story that truly deserves to be told. It involves Honda’s 60th anniversary of its inaugural F1 victory at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix and how Patrick and his team meticulously recreated some of the original gear worn by that team for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration in Mexico last year, which I was fortunate enough to attend.

      **From Designing to Licensing**

      I first connected with Patrick after Monterey Car Week in 2024, while covering the story of Honda’s first winning F1 car doing an exhibition run at Laguna Seca. Some team members who traveled with the car from Japan wore some of his designs, which sparked our conversation. However, he has been creating cool merchandise since he was young. From tinkering with his Macintosh computer to designing logos for artists at 15, he later attended Carnegie Mellon University to study graphic design, industrial design, and business. Additionally, he claims to have owned over 40 Hondas and Acuras.

      After successfully launching a line of wooden car toys called Automoblox—some of you may have had these as kids—he reached out to Honda about collaborating on a new model. Interestingly, it all started with one of Honda’s more mundane vehicles, marking the beginning of his journey into licensing and creating exciting products with the Japanese automaker.

      “When I went to college, I was considering becoming a car designer,” Calello shared with me. “I had a subscription to Car Styling Magazine, the official design magazine for the automotive industry. Back then, it was around $25 an issue. I moved on from that, but much later, with Automoblox, I revisited those dreams and ideas about car design, which eventually led to my work with Honda.

      “My pitch was: ‘How cool would it be to reach into the living rooms of Americans?’ These big companies invest so much in trying to connect with consumers, spending heavily on TV ads and other strategies, right? So, what if someone who bought a new Honda Odyssey also received an Automoblox Odyssey? What if an Automoblox Odyssey came with the car?

      “One fascinating part of that Automoblox project was that Honda provided me with the CAD file for the Odyssey about a year and a half before anyone else had even seen it! The project ultimately didn’t pan out, but the core idea was to bring the Honda brand into American homes and connect consumers with the brand; that’s really where my expertise lies,” he added.

      In some of our discussions, Patrick mentioned that he eventually recognized a need to provide Honda enthusiasts with apparel to express their love for the brand in an exciting way. He explained it this way: “I wanted fans to wear a Honda shirt or hoodie, but I didn’t want people to question why someone would wear merchandise for an Accord or Odyssey. It needed to reflect Honda’s cooler side, so I concentrated on its rich racing legacy.”

      As a result, Patrick's products, which can be explored here, range from vintage Acura tees to HRC jackets, vintage F1 gear, and even wall posters. If you’re a Honda/Acura fan or simply a car aficionado, there’s likely something in his collection that will appeal to you. And no, this is not a promotional segment.

      But that’s where his journey began, ultimately leading him to 2025, when he aimed to create some truly unique merchandise for the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix.

      **A Honda Fiesta**

      Honda claimed its first Formula 1 victory back in 1965 at what was then the Mexican Grand Prix—now referred to as the Mexico City Grand Prix. American driver Richie Gin