Pants calendar is an unlikely success

A bizarre calendar of men posing in their underpants with classic 1970s cars is proving an unlikely success in Germany.

The pictures - featuring male models of all shapes and sizes - show some classic bodywork has aged better than others.

One bearded model poses in a pair of baggy brown Y-fronts, holding a chainsaw, as he stands beside a classic Audi quattro.

Another model in the £25 calendar is seen posing proudly in front of a Volvo Amazon while wearing skin-tight leopard-skin print trunks.

Creator Janet Schurmeyer, from Wuppertal, says she and a photographer pal dreamed up the calender as an antidote to traditional poses of semi-clad women draped over curvy sports cars.

"We only use men - most of them are our friends - and they are often not wearing the most attractive underwear, whatever it is they feel comfortable in" she explained.

"I'd say it's about equal with men and women buying them. It is not a question of sex - it's more about a person's sense of humour," she added.

The pair say it's selling well online - and they have even sold some to garages where mechanics have hung it alongside the regular girlie pin up calenders.

She added: "There are girl mechanics now as well - so why shouldn't they have something for the wall as well?

"There is a minimum age of 20 years for the cars. For the men it is 18," she added.