Celebrating 70 years of Austin-Healey With Two New Frederique Constant Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph Automatics
4 min read
Celebrating the 70th anniversary of Austin-Healey, Frederique Constant has introduced two exclusive limited editions. The Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph Automatic, has now adopted the “British racing green” colour of the legendary vintage car with the NOJ393 number plate.
This is the number plate of the famous Austin-Healey 100S, bought in 1969 by a fan. A one of its kind responsive and distinguished racing car, of which one of the last original cars was purchased at that time for £155 fetched 1 million euros when it was sold in December 2011. It was the outcome of the collaboration between the Austin Motor Company and that of the driver, Donald Healey, also a creator and designer.
2022 marks the 70th anniversary of the creation of this legend, of which Frederique Constant has been the key partner since 2007. The occasion to offer vintage car fans a collector’s piece to wear on the wrist: the Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph Automatic.
Both new 42mm steel Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph Automatics share a common look barring one small detail. For 10 timepieces, and instead of the “12” index at midday, the numerals “70” have been placed as an ode to the creation of the Austin-Healey company. The other one, limited to 700 timepieces, prefers the watchmaking tradition in which the number 12 is in its normal place and the “70th Anniversary” wording is at 6 o’clock.
The engine: the mechanical FC-397 calibre automatic winding. On the rev counter: 28,800 beats per hour. Its tank: 48-hour power reserve. Bodywork: British racing green. Dashboard: bicompax, in the purest watchmaking tradition.
On the left, the seconds counter for the timing part; on the right, the chronograph’s minutes counter. The index and timer are in pure white for perfect legibility on the matt-finish dial, indispensable for a watch dedicated to motor racing. The racing spirit of the piece is emphasised by the two hands of the chronograph which stand out in a bright red hue: the central hand for the seconds and the 30 minutes countdown hand at the three o’clock position.
The hours and minutes hands, as well as the indexes, are silver-tone and luminescent. Along the 12 o’clock – 6 o’clock axis the two brand logos mirror each other, a symbol of their long and faithful union: “Frederique Constant – Geneva” at midday, “Healey” at six o’clock, in its legendary original font.
As for the chassis, the timepiece features an open case back onto the movement, etched with a “Limited Edition XX/10” or “Limited Edition XX/700” number. The watch is worn on an asphalt black strap finished with two lines of topstitching, like two white lines marking the edges of the track.
To perfect this parallel with motor racing, the new Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph Automatic comes in its dedicated gift box alongside a miniature replica of the famous NOJ393.
