In 1971, actor Steve McQueen co-produced and starred in the film Le Mans, which paid tribute to motor racing on the big screen. The film was groundbreaking, as the fictional storyline was set against the backdrop of the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans race, incorporating footage from the actual race that year.
Le Mans was a project close to McQueen's heart, as he was a passionate motorsport driver whose prowess behind the wheel had been showcased in 1968 during the iconic chase scene in Bullitt. McQueen had hoped to compete in the 24-hour Le Mans race himself in 1970, but his request was declined.
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For the filming, watchmaker Heuer (now TAG Heuer since 1997), renowned for its association with motorsport, supplied six examples of its Monaco chronograph with a blue dial (Ref. 1133B), introduced in 1969. Of these, two featured stainless steel bracelets and four had leather straps. It was the leather-strapped models that Steve McQueen wore in the film. After Le Mans wrapped up, Bevan Weston, the mechanic on the film, bought one of these watches. It accompanied him on the racetrack for the next forty years until he sold it to a private collector in 2010, who now wishes to sell it.
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The sale will take place on 11 December at Sotheby’s in New York, where the Monaco chronograph from Le Mans will make its auction debut. It will be one of the main highlights of the ‘Heuer Champions’ sale, which focuses exclusively on exceptional vintage watches from the renowned Swiss brand. The watch is estimated to fetch between $500,000 and $1,000,000.
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Geoff Hess, Sotheby's Global Head of Watches, said: “As a lifelong lover of the Heuer brand, it is a career highlight for me to be involved in bringing one of the most important watches in the history of the marque to auction. The connection between cars and watches is well-known, but the reference 1133B encapsulates this union in a way unmatched by other timepieces. For enthusiasts of racing, McQueen, or vintage chronographs, this watch represents the ultimate addition to any collection—a true 'end game' piece.”
