1967 Le Mans Race Imagery
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is forever imprinted in the minds of the watch-loving public. An iconic one-day French automotive race begun in 1923, it is the world’s oldest active endurance racing event and has hosted international superstar drivers. Names such as Mario Andretti, Jacky Ickx, and Dan Gurney are no doubt familiar to racing aficionados, but with 1971’s Le Mans starring none other than Steve McQueen, the race — and the Heuer watch on McQueen’s wrist — reached a worldwide audience.
This incredible racing magazine image from the 1967 iteration of Le Mans — the 35th Grand Prix of Endurance — commemorates an incredible day of racing from June of that year: Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt became the first and only all-American victors when their Fork Mk IV took home first place, placing the Ferrari team in 2nd and 3rd places. Though no actual watches are depicted in this striking photograph, it dates from a legendary time when every driver worth his salt had a proper mechanical chronograph strapped to his wrist. Close your eyes, and you can all but hear the engines roar.
About our collaboration with Ad Patina
We're thrilled to be collaborating once again with our longtime friend Nick at Ad Patina to bring you a selection of the most-popular and hard to find original vintage magazine advertisements curated specifically for Analog:Shift!
Scouring the world for forgotten marketing treasures, Ad Patina's raison de être very much mimics our own - to hunt down these wonderful bits of history, preserve and restore them as needed, and share them with an enthusiastic community.
These documents of horological and advertising history have entered the collecting conversation as the ultimate accompanying accessory to go along with hobbies and passions. They have found themselves framed in homes and offices around the world.
Every one of these wonderful pieces is a genuine, vintage advertisement that has been professionally framed to ensure years of enjoyment to come - no reprints or reproductions here!
Much like a traditional piece of art - a painting or photograph - an original advertisement can be appreciated for its design as well as for its power to evoke nostalgia. Something vintage enthusiasts know all about!
