1971 Heuer Autavia 1163T “Siffert” Mark 4 / Mark 6 Dial
Ref: 1163 T
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only” with no original box or original papers. The watch comes paired with a black racing-style 20mm leather racing-style strap complete with a Heuer signed buckle. The watch is from Circa. 1971 and is in worn, vintage condition, with a Mark 4 case, Mark 6 dial, Mark 4 hands, and all original Heuer parts, as you can see from the photographs. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
The Watch
Here we have a 1971 Heuer Autavia 1163T “Siffert” Mark 4 / Mark 6 Dial made to celebrate the famous racing driver Jo Siffert who started his formula one career in 1962 driving a Lotus-Climax, he moved to Rob Walker Racing Team in 1964 winning two non-championship Mediterranean Grands Prix in 1964 and 65 beating Jim Clark. He lost his life at the 1971 World Championship Victory Race when his car rolled due to mechanical failure. The 42mm C-shaped stainless steel Mark 4 case curves over your wrist with stubby flat-ended lugs, a lug-to-lug length of 47.5mm and a case thickness of 15mm give the watch an impressive wrist presence. Down the right side, we have the chronograph piston pushers and on the left side, a signed crown. The stainless steel bezel has a black Tachymeter scale insert holding a domed crystal above a cream Mark 6 dial, an outer minute track is precisely executed with applied steel baton indexes with a Tritium pip marking the hours. At 3 o’clock a black 30-minute register and at 9 o’clock a black 12-hour register, at 6 o’clock a framed date window, slender Mark 4 sword hands infilled with Tritium complemented by a blue tapered chronograph hand. At 12 o’clock we have the Autavia Heuer motif and at 6 o’clock Automatic Chronograph completes this racing-inspired bicompax. On the reverse, a screw-down case back, inside automatic Heuer Cal. 11, 17 jewels, beating at 19,800 beats per hour, this iconic movement launched at the 1969 BaselWorld fair was used in the Carrera, Monaco, and Breitling Chrono-Matic and later used by brands like Hamilton, Bulova, and Zodiac. The watch comes fitted on a black racing-style 20mm leather strap complete with a Heuer signed buckle.
Personal Note
It is far from every day you get an example like this to come up for sale! A true collector's piece and the condition is stupendous and the dial and handset are aged to perfection, if you are a Heuer fan this reference will be one on your hit list if you don't own it already, and if you don't own it, here is your chance to pick up a truly great one and a great price. Book an appointment and come view it for yourself.
The Brand
Edouard Heuer founded The Heuer Watch Company in 1860 in St. Imier, Switzerland. Chronographs have been the mainstay for Heuer and later TAG Heuer. They were featuring many models and configurations, expanding the possibilities to the full. In 1958 Jack Heuer, Edouard’s son, joined the company. In 1962 the first generation of Autavia was launched. Famously worn in the 1970s by Formula One drivers such as Derek Bell, Jacky Ickx, Emerson Fittipaldi, Clay Regazzoni and Mario Andretti, and many more. LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A. offered a bid in 1999 that was accepted by TAG Heuer.