Heuer has a deep history rooted in motorsports racing, despite facing difficulty selling wristwatch chronographs - like this full serviced early 1970's Heuer Autavia Ref. 1163 here - in the early 1970’s. In fact, Heuer’s stopwatches, the leader in track timing at the time, vastly outsold its wristwatches used for motorsports timing at the time.
From this difficult time came a unique partnership – Heuer was struggling to sell watches, Viceroy its cigarettes. Heuer and Viceroy approached the famous Parnelli Jones racing team with a proposal to promote both the sportsman’s cigarette and Autavia chronograph, respectively. From this proposal arose a new version of the famed Heuer Autavia as part of a cross-branding cigarette/chronograph promotion.
Heuer produced this special version of the 1163, the Calibre 11 1163V, for the deal - and Viceroy offered the watch for $88 when combined with a single box top from a Viceroy Cigarette carton. The promotion was a great branding (and financial) success for Heuer, and laid the foundation for a subsequent successful rise.
The name Autavia, first used on Heuer dashboard racing timers in the 1930s, came from a combo of two words - Automotive & Aviation. The 1163 was launched in 1969 and has the 1163 reference number engraved between the lugs. Most of the 1163 range was on sale from 1969-1972 - while the 1163 was only on sale for a few years, the case design served as the template for Autavias that followed. For more on the fascinating history of the Heuer Calibre 11 - one of the world's first automatic chronographs (sorry, Seiko won) - read this excellent write-up on Hodinkee, here (the Hamilton Fountainbleu in the article was sourced by DCVW).
There’s no denying vintage Heuers have seen a tremendous increase in popularity, with the reissuance of numerous references from their back catolog - always sans "TAG" nomenclature - to include the Autavia, Monza, Carrera, and Monoco.
This Heuer Viceroy comes with a leather rally strap, nylon strap, rugged travel case, spring bar tool, and a reproduction Heuer-correct box.
Early 1970's Heuer Autavia Ref. 1163V "Viceroy" Automatic Chronograph
DIAL: Black Heuer-signed dial and correct hands, with date at 6 o’clock position functioning as designed - no dial blemishes.
BEZEL: Tachymeter bezel rotates as designed; correct aftermarket black insert has no scratches.
CASE: Atypical stainless-steel Heuer case measures 42mm (w/o crown, 45.5mm with) x 47mm ; matching caseback. Case is signed between lugs "1163."
CRYSTAL: Original domed crystal, no deep scratches or cracks.
BAND: Black leather rally strap, designed to mimic the original Corfam Heuer straps these were sold with - we've added a correct aftermarket Heuer buckle; this Viceroy also comes with a black nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: Heuer Calibre 12 automatic movement - an upgraded and improved successor to the Calibre 11, released shortly after the latter debuted in 1969. This Autavia Viceroy has been full serviced.
CROWN: Heuer-signed stainless steel crown.
CHRONOGRAPH: Chronograph pushers depress with satisfying click, no stick. All chronograph hands snap back and reset to zero with no issue.
This Autavia Viceroy comes with an accurate reproduction of the original box Heuer accompanied the Autavia with when new.