Built for the racetracks, the Heuer Carrera traces back to its muse since 1963. From the Carrera Panamericana, a legendary car race through Mexico, Jack Heuer set out to create a professional chronograph that ticks all his boxes: clean, legible, practical, waterproof and modern. The answer was the Carrera ref. 2447. An incredible success and an important pillar in Heuer’s heritage, the Carrera has been offered in more than 110 varieties since its birth, and till this day, the model holds an important place in Tag Heuer’s line-up and aficionados heart. And of course, the vintage designs back in the old days are collectors’ favourites.
In the early years, the Carrera was available with a silver dial or a black (noir, in French) dial; 2447S, for silver, and 2447N for noir. The present example fitted with an all black dial is the latter and belongs to second-execution variant from the series. In the same way that car manufacturers update a model without totally reworking the chassis, the Carrera was given a facelift partway through the run.

The earliest Carreras from 1963, or first-executions, have characteristics like applied indexes, hands with luminous insert, and unsigned crowns; later examples of second-executions from 1970 onwards feature hands with black and luminous inserts, and additional strips of white on the applied indexes. Furthermore, the markers at 3, 6, 9 o’ clock have been replaced with luminous dots instead. The second-execution models are more uncommon compared to earlier examples and sought-after by collectors as a result.

Presented in excellent overall condition retaining its original strong case proportion, the luminous material on the dial has furthermore aged into a beautiful yellow hue, heightening the vintage charm of this timepiece. A spirit of endurance and the 60th anniversary of the icon, this ref. 2447N is furthermore fitted with a Gay Frères bracelet that makes this even more desirable.