Heuer Camaro

The humble Heuer Camaro has finally attracted the attention of collectors. And for good reason, we might add! With a funky, retro vibe, it exudes '70s style, combined with the functionality of its more famous Heuer racing chronograph brethren, the Autavia, Carrera, and Monaco. Perhaps the timing of the Camaro's release accounts for its being overshadowed by the other Heuer racing chronographs: It debuted in 1968, just one year before the premier of the Caliber 11 — or Chronomatic — automatic movement. The Autavia, Carrera, and Monaco all received the brand-new movement while the Camaro did not, and production of this forgotten model ceased in 1972, making it a relative rarity among Heuer racing chronographs in today's vintage watch market.  But for all this, the Camaro's distinctive style — just as unique as that of the Monaco — reserves it a place in the pantheon of great Heuer chronographs. Like the Monaco's case, the Camaro's is square, but where the Monaco's is all sharp, beveled edges, the Camaro is a softened cushion with straight lugs. The case is thin, comfortable on the wrist, though like all square cases, it wears larger than its 37mm would suggest. While the Camaro was produced in numerous configurations, many people are drawn to the symmetry of the Reference 7743. Housed in that excellently sized 37mm stainless steel cushion case, it features an acrylic crystal, a matte black Tritium dial with applied indices and two sub-registers — giving it a balance that feels reminiscent of gauges on a vintage dashboard, barrel pushers, and comes fitted to a Ralstra® perforated leather rallye leather strap as all great driving watches should be! As with most Camaros, the 7743N is driven by a Valjoux 7733 manually-wound chronograph movement, a true workhorse caliber used extensively throughout the motorsports heyday. The Camaro's "big brothers" (the Monaco, Autavia, and Carrera) might have stolen the spotlight in the collector market, but in our opinion, you'd be hard pressed to find a legitimate vintage motorsports chronograph with more style and charisma. It's the total package: it's distinctive, rare, and has one hell of a heavyweight chronograph movement. With all that going for it, the Camaro definitely deserves your consideration.