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M1-Le Mans Classic Chrono Takes Ford and Porsche Race Cars Right to Your Wrist

From watches inspired from the city of Detroit to pieces tied to Ford and Porsche race cars, Detroit Watch Company is bringing one of the world's best-known automobile races, 24 Hours of Le Mans, on your wrist.
Number 20 was the number Steve McQueen drove in the 1971 movie Le Mans 17 photos
Photo: Detroit Watches Company
Inspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wristInspired by the world of racing, these watches bring the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your wrist
The new M1-Le Mans Classic Chrono, which comes in three variants distinguished by the numbers that made the racecars famous at the 24 hours of Le Mans, is based on the watchmaker's M1-Woodward Avenue chronograph. For those who might not know, M1, commonly known as Woodward Avenue, is a major north-south highway that connects much of the greater Detroit Metro Area.

It's one of Michigan's oldest roads where the automotive culture took root in the U.S. Not only was it home to one of the first Ford factories, but it also was one of the first streets where races were born. Therefore, it's only natural that this watch model, highly connected to the racing world, would serve as the base for the Number 20, Number 9, and Number 6 new timepieces.

Named after the Gulf-liveried Porsche 917K that actor Steve McQueen makes a true star in 1971 in his famous Le Mans movie, the Number 20 watch borrows the aesthetics of the car. The livery colors are also on the chronograph, as the dial is covered in a baby blue crossed by an orange stripe.

A few years later after the movie was shot, the result of the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans was a resounding success, with Pedro Rodríguez and Lucien Bianchi having a clear lead over the Porsches, driving the number 9 race car. Inspired by the Ford GT40, chassis #1075, the watch, which bears the same winning number on its dial, also features the specific 'Gulf Oil' colors.

Next year, the number 6 was led to victory with Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver behind the wheel. This was the second time the same car, a Ford GT40 #1075 nicknamed the 'Old Lady,' had won two years in a row. That achievement was first tied to a Bentley Speed Six, which won the race in 1929 and 1930. Inspired by the winning number, the watch's dial also has the number 6 displayed in the middle of the specific orange stripe.

Powered by the Swiss Valjoux Eta 7750 Automatic, these three timepieces can run for two days straight at 28,800 vibrations per hour (vph). To finish the look, the watchmaker coated the hour indexes with Superluminova and added a calf leather strap with orange stitches.

Available in 42mm and 44mm, these pieces inspired by the 60s and 70s race cars are listed on the Detroit Watch Company's site at the price of $1,995.
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About the author: Florina Spînu
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Florina taught herself how to drive in a Daewoo Tico (a rebadged Suzuki Alto kei car) but her first "real car" was a VW Golf. When she’s not writing about cars, drones or aircraft, Florina likes to read anything related to space exploration and take pictures in the middle of nature.
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