Vintage “Targa Florio” -- The Great Debate The Issue The Evidence Against These Examples: Watchmakers Watchmakers in both the United States and Switzerland who have been with Heuer for many years -- covering the period since 1962 -- have no recollection of this chronograph either new or brought in by a customer for repair. Catalogs This chronograph is not included, described, depicted or mentioned in any of the catalogs or brocchures from the 1950's through 1960's that we have access to. Markings on Movements The movements have a variety of markings, with no consistency between these markings. This is inconsistent with the theory that these chronographs were a special series produced for a racing team, as they would have been produced in a single "run". Unique Markings Two of the markings on these chronographs are "unique" (i.e., not seen on any other Heuer chronographs). These two markings are the word "Swiss" on the dial and the words "Swiss Made" on the movement. I have not seen any other Heuer chronographs with either of these markings. Construction of the Cases The "Targa Florio" has a solid stainless steel case. Heuer did not use stainless steel cases for its 1950's chronographs. During this period, cases were made of coated brass. Photos of Fangio We have inspected dozens of photographs of Juan Manuel Fangio looking for the "Targa Florio" chronograph. YES -- he wore a variety of chronographs, even during races and practices. NO -- none of them resemble the "Targa Florio". Guilt by Association At least one of the Targa Florio chronographs was offered for sale together with a split-second chronograph that was clearly "put together" with out-of-period components. The case on this split-second chronograph was marked "Ed. Heuer & Co.", but the movement was marked "Heuer-Leonidas" and the movement (Valjoux 9) was never used during the Ed. Heuer years. The Bottom Line There are reports that craftsmen in Poland and Germany are able to manufacture stainless steel cases, and then transplant Valjoux 5 movements from handheld chronographs or pocket watches (genuine Heuers typically available for under $500) into these cases. Dials from the "donors" are then refinished, with the markings being rotated 90 degrees, as necessary, so that they are in the required positions. The Issue The Evidence in Favor of These Examples: It Must Have Existed In all its literature relating to the re-issue of the Targa Florio, TAG-Heuer refers to the chronograph that was made for Fangio in the 1950's. Accordingly, there must have been an original Targa Florio and this is "it". Specially Commissioned Series The Targa Florio was specially produced for a factory racing team. This explains why it is not in the catalogs and the Heuer watchmakers have never seen them.