It's no secret that the team at Analog:Shift is partial to all things motorsports and racing, and there are few brands with as strong a motorsports connection as Heuer.

In the 1960s and '70s sporty chronographs were all the rage and there's no doubt Heuer was the brand to beat, with some of the most renowned racers and teams of the day regularly seen sporting Heuer’s iconic Carrera, Monza and Autavia models. Nowadays, however, many vintage Heuer chronographs remain out of reach of many enthusiasts.

However, this particular model, a Reference 13-1, is a bit of a straggler, and could even be considered overlooked.

This early black-coated DLC piece, came at a time when automatic chronographs — and especially those from Heuer itself — were all the rage. With its unique triple-register layout (in which only two registers are functional, as the third houses a date window), the 13-1 is perhaps less cohesive a design than that of the Carrera, but nevertheless represents everything that makes Heuer timepieces so popular: no-nonsense looks, a sensical layout, and a highly legible dial.

It features a 40mm black DLC barrel case with hooded lugs, a mineral crystal, dual pushers, and a matte black Tritium dial with a black tachymeter rehaut, recessed grey sub registers, and a date at 3:00.

Powered by the hand-cranking Valjoux 7765 movement, this piece comes paired to a very appropriate perforated black leather strap with a steel pin buckle.

These are wonderful timepieces that represent just about everything that we love about vintage, and Heuer.

If you are looking for a quirky, functional, and endlessly charming vintage chronograph from one of the best names in the business, look no further.