Heuer Autavia 'Siffert Colors'

The 1960s and 1970s are commonly regarded as the golden age of sports car racing. Sex was safe and racing was dangerous. Limits were pushed, records set and demolished, lives lost. Legends were born on the race track — names like Jim Clark, Graham Hill, & Jo Siffert.

Chronograph wrist watches were an essential piece of kit for these men, and the Heuer Autavia was worn by many of the great drivers of the day. This was due in no small part to Siffert, a Swiss race car driver and friend of Jack Heuer's, who became the de facto brand ambassador, hocking watches for Jack between races and off-season to his fellow drivers. Jo Siffert was known to be particularly affectionate towards the cushion-cased Autavia with the white and black 'panda' dial configuration, and it is from his association that these beautiful pieces got their nickname. 

The 'Siffert Colors' Reference 73663 differs from the model worn by Jo in that it features a triple-register dial layout and a manual-winding movement instead of the complicated Calibre 11 automatic. Basically, what this 73663 has is what we look for in vintage Heuer — full stop.

This particular example features a 42mm stainless steel cushion case with barrel pushers, signed crown and an acrylic crystal. The white dial features a black triple register display and of course, the touch of blue accents found throughout each hour marker and center chronograph seconds hand. Powered by a more reliable, Valjoux manual-winding movement, this piece comes outfitted with a stainless steel, beads-of-rice bracelet with a signed locking clasp.

Sure, the automatics hog all the attention, but we'll be damned if this isn't a better looking, more reliable, and more budget-conscious way to show your appreciation for Jo Siffert and the racers who defined an era.

Own this time capsule, today!

In 1962, Jack Heuer inherited the company that his great-grandfather had founded in Saint-Imier nearly a century before.

He had already played a role in the design of some timepieces, starting with the Solunar in the late 1940s. But in 1962, the responsibility of running the company fell on his shoulders, and he found himself faced with the daunting task of safeguarding his ancestor’s legacy while at the same time forging his own. His chosen path? Moving into a line of technical instruments for use in sporting and transportation applications.

The Heuer name was not unknown in motor racing and aviation circles. Starting in 1911, when the sport of automobile racing was still in its infancy, the company produced dashboard clocks for cars, boats, and even airplanes. Jack Heuer, a longtime racing aficionado, saw an opportunity to revitalize — or at the very least, to reexamine — the company’s already-successful line of chronographs.

He had first tried his hand with the Autavia, which at the time of his succession was a stopwatch with a virtually illegible dial. In its place he launched the line of Autavia wrist chronographs, the first line of chronographs produced by Heuer to be named, rather than simply numbered. The Autavia was purpose-built for racers and pilots, and attracted the attention of Formula 1 racers and devotees such as Jochen Rindt and Steve McQueen.

In designing the Carrera in 1963, Jack Heuer created something that was entirely his, and is without question the chronograph that is most associated with the brand today. Heuer's obsession with legibility led to a dial design that was simpler to read than the Omega Speedmaster or the Rolex Daytona (released the same year as the Carrera). What resulted was a chronograph with plain baton markers that gave only the most necessary bits of information — clean, uncluttered, undeniably attractive.

The brand grew to become a powerhouse in chronographs in particular, and the list of famous designs from the 1960s and 1970s can’t be counted on two hands. However, one innovation from 1969 deserves particular mention: the famed Caliber 11. This caliber (and its successors) was the result of a multinational race to build the world’s first automatic chronograph movement. It would go on to power the famed Monaco — made famous by actor Steve McQueen — as well as automatic versions of the Autavia, Carrera and more.

Falling on hard times in the wake of the Quartz Crisis, Heuer was ultimately purchased by Technique Avant Garde (TAG), and subsequently by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey, who brought the brand into the modern age. Early TAG Heuer quartz divers from the 1980s have found newfound appreciation in collector’s circles, while the brand’s modern catalog is a mix of vintage-inspired reissues and unique collections, such as the Connected smartwatch line.

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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.