Year: 1976
Reference: 47970 10978
Model: Timex Viscount
Movement: M109 (automatic)
Complication: Manual/Automatic Wind, Sweeping Seconds Hand, Day-Date
It is unclear why Timex produced a Champion Spark Plug promotional watch in 1978. Some speculate that this was because in 1977, Renault’s 2-litre Alpine A442 was the surprise winner of the LeMans and was using Champion Spark Plugs at the time.
The Champion Spark Plugs Viscount watch was based on an existing Viscount model. It had the addition of the Champion Spark Plug logo printed in the lower half of the dial. Apart from that it was stock.
The case is chrome plated over base metal and had hidden lugs. The watch has a 60 second bezel made from plastic and painted blue with silver accents. The dial is black with predominantly white painted detail including a seconds track, TIMEX, AUTOMATIC printed on the dial. The markers are rectangular and have some lume. The hands are black with white tips and have lume. The sweeping seconds hand is red. The watch has a day-date complication framed with a white printed border.
I assume the strap was plastic and the same style used by other racing/sports/divers of the time. This is a fairly rare watch.
Image from eBay
It has an accompanying Mercury watch with corresponding Champion Spark plugs logo on the dial which i don’t have. If you do and want to sell please let me know via @timetrope on Instagram
