The Vintage Rally Healey limited editions have worked their way into the affections of classic car enthusiasts on account of their constancy. They were created as a result of a seventeen year partnership between the Frederique Constant Manufacture and the Austin-Healey car brand.
The previous edition of the Vintage Rally Healey Automatic dates back to 2018. Now it’s back, thanks to two new three-hand models with date. This time around, Frederique Constant has given the Vintage Rally Healey Automatic a more urban design. Designed for the gentlemen, this timepiece allows to casually enjoy a new design imbued with retro charm.
The first model features a 40 mm rose gold-plated case that coordinates with the index hour markers and hands. For optimum legibility, they are all enhanced by a luminous treatment, ensuring the time can be made out even at night. The flange counts down the minutes against a chocolate coloured background. Collectors are sure to appreciate the perforated strap, recalling those of the legendary rally watches in the first half of the 20th century, and underscoring the neo-vintage quality of the piece.
The second version’s entire dial is adorned with the deep, bold green colour of the Healey company. A study in contrast and a return to the roots of one of the most iconic rally car colours, “British racing green” has long been associated with the vintage Austin Healeys.
Limited edition
Each of the models features an automatic FC-303 calibre with a date window at 3 o’clock and a power reserve of 38 hours. The backgrounds of these two new models have been engraved with a Healey being driven at full throttle; the famous Healey 100S NOJ393 was purchased by a collector for £155 in 1969 and sold for nearly €1 million in December 2011. Underneath is the individual serial number for each piece, strictly limited to 2,888 units, which comes in a collector’s gift set complete with miniature replica of the NOJ393.
Technical information:
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date
Movement: FC-303 caliber, automatic, 26 jewels, 38-hour power reserve, 28’800 alt/h
Case: polished stainless steel 2-parts case, diameter of 40 mm, convex sapphire crystal, water-resistant up to 5 ATM
or
rose gold plated polished stainless steel 2-parts case
Dial:
Silver color dial with brown ring
Applied rose gold plated indexes with white luminous
Date window at 3 o’clock
Hand-polished rose gold plated hours and minutes hands with luminous and pearl black seconds hand
or
Green dial with silver color ring
Applied silver color indexes with white luminous
Date window at 3 o’clock
Hand-polished silver color hours and minutes hands with luminous and silver color seconds hand
Limited edition: 2’888 pieces
For more watchmaking novelties, click here.