A story about an NOS Heuer Autavia

A reader from the US contacted me a few weeks ago with the story of a watch that he has discovered- thanks D for allowing me to re-post your story

A NOS HEUER AUTAVIA

Model 1163V, serial 272699

I received the watch as a gift in June, 1974 when I bought a new car. The saleslady handed me this small box and said it was my free gift. I was unaware of this program so I asked what it was and she replied a watch. I took it home and set it on the desk. A few days later I took a look at it. At that time the name Heuer meant nothing to me and I thought it was too large and with a number of features that I had no use for. I figured it was a cheap watch that the dealer got a deal on. So I put it back in the box and stuck it a drawer and would continue to wear my Accutron.


I totally forgot about it until 43 years later when I ran across it in the drawer in June, 2017. I now recognized the name Heuer and decided to do some research. That’s when I ran across David at Calibre11. He has been a huge help to me and in educating me on this watch. With the pics I sent him he was able to identify the model as the one on the warranty card was invalid. I read that the model and serial were on the back under the sticker. For some reason I was hesitant to do that and asked David and he suggested I don’t and informed me that that info was also on the bracelet lugs. I took it to my trusted watch guy and we had a lengthy conversation as he knew a lot about Heuer watches. And then he took the bracelet off for me, and after he put it back on he said he didn’t put a scratch on it so the NOS was safe.


In the time I have had the watch only 4 people have even touched it: myself, my wife, my son who took some of the pics, and lastly my watch guy. I think the watch is in perfect shape and just like it was when it left the factory.

Love hearing stories like this. That watch is almost the same age as me, and has aged somewhat better!

You and me both! I feel bad for my kids that there is no unopened series 1 Star Wars toys, NOS watches or anything similar to be found in my old boxes!

Some more shots

I absolutely love stories like this!! Great work David and the owner of course!

Super!

To add a little more to the story, it appears as though the watch was given by a US car dealer called Hix Green, who had a Buick dealership in Atlanta. The photo below is undated, but given the cars in the photo, I think it's likely 1970s...so around the same time that D received his Heuer Autavia. The dealership moved out of the city in 1975- so a few months after the Autavia was given.


D purchased a Buick Opel Station Wagon for the family. Buick sold several Opel-sourced cars in the 1970s, including the 1900, which was a rebadged Opel Ascona.

Miracles do happen.

Speaking of kids, maybe I should keep some of my watches in their NIB state so eventually they become NOS.
Can't say however at this stage if my daughters will have any interest in timepieces.

So freakin' cool! Where can I find a car dealer running this promotion today?!

Exactly- I guess a car is a more worthy purchase than a few cartons of Viceroy cigarettes!

What a cool story... I got a bit of NOS myself today but nowhere near as old as this and nowhere near as cool as this...My gf has been putting money away every month for my 50tb present and I think an Autavia is what I will be getting...