1911 — Chorongraphs and Cars
After the patent of the brand's first chronograph in 1892, founder Edouard Heuer passed away, and his already reputable legacy was handed down to his sons. By 1911, Heuer had patented the first dashboard chronograph for use in planes and cars, in what was to be the first step on a long and legendary association with motorsport. The "Time of Trip" chronograph didn't just introduce all the features we have come to expect from a chronograph to the dashboard but added an undeniable touch of class, style, and sleek design to the otherwise quite clunky and ramshackle affair dashboard implements were at the time. In 1914, Heuer adapted the dashboard chronograph into a wrist-watch, creating the ultimate accessory for the "gentleman racer."
1948 — Porsche Pulls Up
Despite not releasing their first car until 1948, founder Ferdinand Porsche put his stamp on the automobile industry from the 1930s, developing small cars and racing vehicles for several companies. It wasn't until 1948, though, that Ferdinand's son (also named Ferdinand) stepped up to the plate, forming Porsche as its own company and rolling out their first official car out of the workshop doors. The Porsche 356 is undoubtedly a Porsche. From the smooth aerodynamic contours to those bulging kawaii headlights, it was already the most stylish ride on the road. Despite only producing 50 upon release, the 356 quickly created a stir amongst car enthusiasts and racers.
1963 — A Shared Passion for Carrera
The La Carrera Panamericana is the race that stole both brands' hearts and inevitably brought them together. Known commonly as the most dangerous race in the world, it only ran from 1950 to 1954 because it was a bit, well, dangerous. The race involved some of the world's most famous and daring drivers taking on Mexican open roads, border to border. Legend has it, great-grandson of Edouard Heuer, Jack Heuer — a huge motorsport fan — was observing the Sebring 12-hour endurance race (he was supplying the officials with timepieces) when he got into a conversation with the Rodríguez brothers, two of Mexico's most famous drivers. Heuer said of the encounter: "The Rodríguez brothers were racing with Ferrari, and they were still so young, they were traveling with their parents. Pedro and his brother Ricardo were two of the fastest, smartest, and bravest endurance drivers of all time. To hear them talk of the Carrera made my imagination soar. Just the sound of the name itself — elegant, dynamic, easily pronounced in all languages — was charged with emotion. I thought, that's a good name for a watch."
The stories of daredevil drivers in the highest grade cars, taking on the elements and looking pristine and stylish while doing so, captured his imagination. It was time to create a watch that could match the speed and style of those legendary racers, a watch that could feature on the wrists of those cigar-smoking, sun-kissed, shade wearing faces as the paparazzi caught them leaning out of the window of their racer. Heuer quickly gained the right to use Carrera's name (meaning “race”) on a watch, and the Heuer Carrera driver's chronograph was released in 1963.
That very same year, Porsche also released their magnum opus, the Porsche 911. The 911 wasn't bestowed with the Carrera name until 1972, but Porsche had been using the name on their top models since 1955. Porsche at the turn of the '50s was not a brand renowned for producing great race models, but La Carrera Panamericana was different. Its open format on civilian roads that winded through desert, jungle, and mountain ranges was the perfect course for the Porsche's aggression, reliability, and endurance. Inspired by their success during the last ever race of their class, a year after the Panamericana's dissolution, Porsche produced the 356A Carrera.
Στάλθηκε από το SM-N986B μου χρησιμοποιώντας Tapatalk
