The real story of the Heuer Carrera chronograph dates back to 1950, when the Carrera Panamericana car race was first held. This open road border-to-border race took place in Mexico for five years in a row, spanning more than 3500 km and requiring little safety measures. Professional drivers for motorsports began to attend the race by 1954, as evidenced by the fact that the race's last 356-kilometer stage was won at an average speed of 222 kmph. With over two dozen fatalities during the five-year race, the Carrera Panamericana was deemed too dangerous to hold again, even at these high speeds.
The Carrera's design has undergone an intriguing evolution that reflects the fashions and tendencies of the times. The Carrera, which debuted with the ref. 2447 in the 1960s, had a traditional round case with the pushers and crown on the right. The company introduced more avant-garde designs in the 1970s, some of which had tonneau-shaped cases with a left-hand crown orientation.
The reference number 73653 N, which has a manually wound chronograph movement and a tonneau-shaped stainless steel case, is the example we have here. It belongs to the model's transition phase. In 1969, Heuer introduced the renowned Caliber 11 automatic chronograph movement and simultaneously provided manual and automatic Carrera models.
The N following the reference number is Heuer's abbreviation for "noir," which generally refers to black dials. The chronograph seconds hand's red pop complements the well-maintained dial.
This is a particularly beautiful version of the Carrera with a silver sunburst dial and 3 black totalisers/registers. The central chrono hand is in red, the tachymeter imprint in white on black.
Mounted is a brand new Heuer strap including a Heuer folding clasp. Unlike the watch, however, these are not vintage but new.
One of the last hand-wound models in the new design.
Heuer Carrera | Panda Dial | ref. 73653 from 1970, 71
BRAND: HEUER
MODEL: Carrera
REFERENCE: 73653
YEAR: 1970/71
MOVEMENT: Heuer signed Valjoux, manually-wound, caliber 7736
CASE DIMENSIONS: 38mm width x 44mm height; 13mm thickness
CASE MATERIAL: Stainless Steel
GLASS: Plexiglass
BRACELET/STRAP: Original Heuer strap (contemporary)
CLASP: Original Heuer folding clasp (contemporary)
BOX & PAPERS: None
TAX: Differential taxation according to §24 UStGThe watch is in authentic condition, original luminous material and indices with patina. The case is unpolished. All chronograph functions are working. Rate deviation 3 seconds per day. Amplitude 316, beat error 0 (measured on 20 August 2024). Therefore very good performance. The photos of the movement also show what good or almost new condition the movement is in.
Overall, this Carrera is in very good, sincere shape. With all the necessary brushing, the case is solid. The case has only minor scratches. A few scratches remain on the case's back from the removal of the strap. The numbers between the two sets of lugs are easily readable.
The dial is generally quite clean and in excellent condition. Both the dial and the hands' lume have aged to a pleasing buttery yellow hue. All of the lume plots are almost full and show minimal degradation.
An almost light patina has developed on the hour markers and hands.
There are minor scratches on the crystal, but there is a more prominent mark above two o'clock register. Heuer has signed the dial, case, movement, and crown.
All in all, this is a really cool vintage Carrera that has been well cared for and treated and shows perfect accuracy.
