Pre-Owned TAG Heuer Autavia GMT 1163

Why We Love It

It's no secret that the team at Analog:Shift is partial to all things motorsports and racing, and there are few brands with as strong a motorsports connection as Heuer.

In fact, the name "Autavia" comes from a line of rally dashboard clocks that Heuer produced long before the first Autavia wristwatches left the Heuer factory in 1962. 

The Autavia GMT chronograph combines Heuer's mastery of the racing chronograph with a GMT function. The GMT models are particularly rare, featuring distinctive two-tone "Pepsi" bezels and a third large hand displaying a second time zone.

This particular Autavia GMT is a rare example of the first generation automatic Reference 1163 models and remains in outstanding condition. Featuring a beautifully patinated tropical dial with luminous, exotic handset fitted in a crisp cushion case with first series fluted pushers and a lightly faded 'pepsi' bezel inster, this lovely watch dates to the early 1970s and is just about as nice as they come!

With a sporty, elegant design that combines utility with a crisp retro look, this special GMT chronograph ticks all the boxes a collector of vintage Heuer could want. 

The Autavia Story

Heuer's connection with Formula 1 is long-standing, going all the way back to the foundation of Formula 1 in 1950. Drivers in teams ranging from Lotus to Maserati to Jack Heuer's favorite Ferrari wore Heuer chronographs. Some of these have entered horological history carrying the names of the drivers who wore them, an enduring testament to this fruitful relationship. 

The name "Autavia" comes from a combination of two words: Automotive & Aviation. Heuer originally applied the moniker to dashboard clocks and instrumentation used in automobiles and aircraft, but recycled it in the 1960s and applied it to their line of professional racing chronographs for which the name is best known.