Some of the more collectible vintage Heuers are actually the so-called pilots’ version of the Carrera in recent years. This was an early 1970s automatic chronograph manufactured in solid gold, with the familiar C-shaped case. For sheer audacity – these replica watches were produced in solid gold and came on gold mesh bands – it’s difficult to imagine of any factual competition in the world of these fake Heuer watches. 
Mario Andretti has such a kind of item as we saw on a recent episode of Talking Watches. It is the same with his former workmate, the Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson. Nowadays, we’re talking about a very special piece that is a re-edition of the fake Carrera that the “SuperSwede” received from Jack Heuer upon winning the Jo Siffert Prix Rouge et Blanc Award (sponsored by Marlboro, for the “underdog” drive of the day) at the 1972 German Grand Prix. The original watch, which sold for $230,000 at Sotheby’s in 2016 and is now in the replica TAG Heuer Museum, came engraved with words “SUCCESS RONNIE PETERSON FROM JACK W. HEUER.” In conclusion, fewer than 500 of the fake models in yellow gold are regarded to have been made, and several of them ended up on the wrists of well-known drivers of the day. Last November’s Heuer Parade saw two of these watches come up for sale – Lots 15 and 39 – which went for CHF 22,500 and CHF 35,000, respectively.
To commemorate Peterson’s career and benefit the Ronnie Peterson Foundation, TAG Heuer has made a single gold replica of his original 1158. The gold case and Milanese bracelet are on point re-editions, as is the appearance of the dial. But where the original 1158 came with the in-house Caliber 12 movement, an upgraded version of the Caliber 11, the new watch comes with what the replica TAG Heuer today calls a Caliber 11, which is a Sellita base caliber outfitted with a chronograph module from Dubois-Dépraz.
Ronnie Peterson raced in Formula One from 1970 to 1978 for three teams. Over the course of his Formula One career, which was tragically cut short – he died in 1978, at 34, as a result of injuries sustained in a crash at Monza – Peterson won 10 Grands Prix and reached the podium 26 times.
The auction, titled Les Grandes Marques à Monaco, breaks out May 11 in Monte Carlo, and is focused on all things racing. This particular replica TAG Heuer is lot 111 (Yes, the auction is May 11, the movement is caliber 11, and the lot is 111) and has been listed with a very cheap and affordable price.
