Vic Elford — watch collection

About Vic Elford’s watch collection

Vic Elford is a British racing driver who competed at the highest levels of motorsport during the 1960s and 1970s. He achieved significant success in endurance racing, sports car racing, and Formula One, becoming known for his versatility behind the wheel and competitive spirit across multiple racing disciplines.

Elford's connection to watchmaking runs deep within his racing career. His Vic Elford watch collection includes the Rolex 6239 Cosmograph Daytona, a steel sports chronograph that holds particular significance in both his personal history and Rolex's racing heritage. In 1968, Elford piloted a Porsche 907 to victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona, an achievement that earned him one of the earliest documented examples of a Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6239 from Rolex's tradition of presenting chronographs to race winners.

The steel Rolex 6239 from Elford's collection represents the early generation of Daytona chronographs, featuring the characteristic cushion case and tachymeter bezel of that production period. This particular timepiece remains documented with its original box, serving as a tangible record of Elford's 1968 Daytona victory. The Rolex sports chronograph became the natural choice for racing drivers of that era, combining precise timekeeping with the durability required in competitive motorsport environments.