Heuer Autavia. Say that name and you conjure images of motorsports par excellence. Heuer first applied the name "Autavia" (a portmanteau of "automotive" and "aviation," signifying its intended use in both automobiles and aircraft) to dashboard clocks in cars and airplanes. But it's with the Motorsports chronographs that the name "Autavia" is best associated. The Autavia GMT chronograph, in the attractive size of 40mm, 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.

Heuer released the Autavia in many case sizes and configurations, all made of stainless steel. The earliest models had screw case backs, unusual for racing chronographs of the period. Then, around 1969, Heuer shifted to a snap-back compressor case for improved water resistance.

Values for early Heuer chronographs (particularly manually-winding Autavia models) are on the rise, and clean, original examples are getting hard to come by. This particular example is as honest as they come, featuring a clean, even patina to the hands and markers. This particular example features the desirable "Mark I" Dial execution with early printing and "T Swiss" marked in the 6:00 subsidiary register.

As a GMT Autavia from the middle of the Autavia's run, the watch comes with the Valjoux 72, modified to accommodate the GMT function. While not one of Heuer's in-house movements--these came later, after the 2466C--the Valjoux 72 is nothing to sniff at. With a sporty, yet elegant design that combines utility with a crisp, retro look, this Autavia ticks all the boxes a collector of vintage Heuer could want.