Bonhams 1793 : MONZA Ref. 150501, 1975

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15 Dec 2010 13:00 GMT London, New Bond Street
The Haslinger Collection
Back to auction 17865

MONZA

Ref. 150501, 1975
17-jewel Cal.15 automatic movement, black dial with one subsidiary dial for 30 minute recording with red sectors, off-set running seconds, dial signed Monza Heuer Automatic Chronograph, white hands with luminous inserts, red chronograph hand, luminous indexes for the hours, white outer 1/5th seconds scale, white Tachymeter scale around the edge with a quarter red Pulsation scale, black PVD coated case with screw down case back, original Heuer Monza black leather strap with black coated Heuer buckle, together with original Heuer Racing Helmet presentation box and German language instruction booklet, case, dial and movement signed
39mm.

Sold for £4,800 inc. premium

Footnotes

On the 7th of September 1975 at the Italian Grand Prix the Ferrari driver Clay Regazzoni crossed the finish line first after 52 laps. Niki Lauda came third and wrote motor racing history as the new Formula One champion for Ferrari. Eleven long years had passed since John Surtees had won the last title for the Scuderia Ferrari in 1964. Conte Luca di Montezemolo was the manager of the team and the drivers Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni had improved the Ferrari 312T until they had a winning racing machine. The Heuer logo was written in large letters on the front of the Ferrari's red chassis.

This success was a confirmation of Jack W. Heuer's motorsports vision. Heuer was so pleased with this result that they created a new model line in honour of the event. In the Heuer catalogue the Monza was described as a special limited edition watch, delivered in a miniature red racing helmet to celebrate Niki Lauda's 1975 Formula 1 title.

The case design was inspired by the Carrera automatic chronograph and was available either in chrome or black anodized cases. The first Monza generation was provided exclusively with a Calibre 15 and characteristic small second-hand stood at 10 o'clock. The name 'Monza' above the classical Heuer Logo in the upper part of the dial was a contrast to the Autavia, Carrera and Calculator models using the Calibre 15, where the name was put at 9 o'clock. The dial was surrounded by a pulse- and tachymeter scale, both very important for the world of motor sports. The pulsometer scale provides the number of pulses per minute with a base count of 15. Starting with the first pulse, which is not to be counted, the stopwatch is started with the upper pusher; with the fifteenth pulse the timekeeper is halted by the same pusher. This enables the pulses per minute to be easily read from the pulsometer-scale. The tachymeter scale is used to calculate the average speed per hour over a measured mile.

On Monza models, reference and serial numbers were engraved at the case back different from other Heuer model series were it is often between the lugs at 6 and 12 o'clock. The Monza was meant to attract a younger target group with its stylish look and big holes in the racing strap.

Category: Clocks and Watches / Watches

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