Articles that Ben has written have been covered on CNN, Popular Mechanics, Smithsonian Magazine, Road & Track Magazine, the official Pinterest blog, the official eBay Motors blog, BuzzFeed, Autoweek Magazine, Wired Magazine, Autoblog, Gear Patrol, Jalopnik, The Verge, and many more. Silodrome was founded by Ben back in 2010, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in the alternative and vintage motoring sector, with well over a million monthly readers from around the world and many hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
Ben Branch -
Raleigh Spitfire Hardcases
If you’ve been looking for a new briefcase that’ll look at home in the passenger seat of a DB4 GT Zagato and on the flight deck of a DC-6, this luggage set might be just what the doctor ordered.
Norton Commando 750
Originally released in 1967 the Norton Commando would very quickly become one of the most iconic British motorcycles of all time, the 58hp parallel twin 750cc engine pulled it up to a top speed in excess of 115mph and it won the Motor Cycle News “Machine of the Year” award for 5 successive years from 1968 to 1972.
Ford RS200 Coupé
The Ford RS200 is one of the most famous of the non-USA developed Fords ever made. In fact I can’t think of another that even comes close, with the possible exception of the Ford GT40 – but my American friends get angry with me when I remind them that the GT40 was designed and built in England.
German Bar Sphere
This former light bulb-testing machine has been repurposed into one of the most appealing home-bars you’ll ever clap your eyes on.
Japan’s War in Colour
“Japan’s War in Colour” is a fascinating look at World War II from the Japanese perspective, the film picks up just before the war begins and shows the build up to war, the invasion of China, followed by Pearl Harbour and the escalation of violence between Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
Classic Car Bottle Openers
These muscle car bottle openers are amongst the best beer-opening solutions we’ve come across, the company behind them is called “Racetrack Style” and they do a series of racetrack keyrings, car keyrings and muscle car bottle openers.
Canvas & Leather Tool Roll by Niyona
The humble tool-roll, often used buy artisans and engineers in days gone by have been making a resurgence of late. They’ve been rediscovered by amateur mechanics and custom bike builders, as well as owners of the kind of vintage motorcycles that require wrenching every few hundred miles (usually by the side of the road, in the rain, at night).
Submariner Sunglasses by Randolph Engineering
Submariner-style frames were first created for the US Navy, they were used as prescription frames for personnel aboard submarines and are still being worn by crews on submarines today.
Bullet 500 “Fox” by Old Empire Motorcycles
Old Empire Motorcycles is a British custom motorcycle garage that have been rapidly developing a reputation as one of the pre-eminent European builders.
Pursuit Glove by Icon
Summertime can tend to make it tough to dress properly when on your motorcycle, protective gear is often hot and bulky which leaves you sweating like an American whistleblower in a Russian airport terminal.
John Lennon’s First Car – 1965 Ferrari 330GT
This beautifully preserved 1965 Ferrari 330GT was the car selected by John Lennon in February 1965, luxury car dealerships across London heard that Lennon had just passed his driving exam, so they rushed their most glamorous cars to his home in Weybridge, Surrey – in the hopes that he’d take a fancy to one of them.
Bear Super Kodiak Bow
The Bear Super Kodiak Bow was first released in 1967 as an upgraded replacement for the Bear Kodiak line of bows – Fred Bear was so impressed with the new design that he took one for himself and used it on hunting trips around the world until he retired.