Composite Dashboard-Mounted Rally-Master Pair , A Master Time Clock and Monte-Carlo stopwatch, Circa 1981

By the late 1970s the Heuer dashboard timer collection substituted their metal cases for a composite plastic which was becoming increasingly popular in the industry. Heuer had experimented with polymers for packaging and the Easy Rider model launched in the early part of the decade, but it was the dashtimers that made the first wholesale shift to the new material.

Replacing the fixing screws with a bayonet mount was a smart design addition, meaning that in open top cars or in aircraft that were not so easy to securely lock, the valuable navigation devices could quickly be removed and stored somewhere safe. The all black aesthetic also lent the models a military air, further added to by the fact that some versions were issued by the British forces. Today the design language resonates perfectly with the ever popular G-body models of the 911, and offer a more accessible price point compared to the earlier versions.

The challenge is finding a set which is well matched and in good condition, as the plastic can become brittle when exposed to UV light and does pick up markets when not handled carefully. The pair presented here are superbly presented and would make a fitting addition to a whole host of sports cars, bringing the motorsport credibility of Heuer to every drive.