The story behind this Baltic Rally Timer
The Tour Auto carries on the spirit of the Tour de France Automobile, founded in 1899 by the Automobile Club de France, on public roads and circuits. In 2026, Baltic, a young French brand specialising in classic cars, will be the official timekeeper for the fourth consecutive year. To mark this year’s event, which sets off from the Grand Palais in Paris and heads to Biarritz in May, it has created the Baltic Rally Timer Tour Auto 2026, limited to 300 numbered pieces, whose dials feature the historic colours of the Tour de France Automobile. This is the first time Baltic has dedicated an entire collection to a Rally Timer. In 2024, the range was only available as an accompaniment to the Tricompax Tour Auto. This type of instrument, mounted on the dashboard, was long used by crews to time regularity trials and special stages, before electronic tripmasters took over.
Case, movement and base of this Rally Timer
Both instruments are housed in brushed and polished 316L stainless steel cases, 60 mm in diameter and 18 mm thick, behind a domed Hesalite crystal, with a fluted crown at 12 o’clock. On the right, the on-board chronograph is powered by the hand-wound Hanhart Calibre 122, featuring a 6-hour power reserve. Its flyback function resets the counter to zero and immediately starts a new timing session, without first stopping the current one. Its luminescent blue central seconds hand sweeps across a matt light blue dial, whilst a 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, with red and blue sectors, totals the minutes. On the left, the on-board clock is powered by the Enloong 6497 calibre, manufactured in China based on the Unitas 6497, which is manually wound and has a 42-hour power reserve. Its luminescent blue hands, large Arabic numerals and small seconds at 6 o’clock on an off-white counter are easily read at a glance. A brushed steel base plate holds the two cases in place with four notched knobs and rests on two feet engraved with ‘BALTIC’. The whole assembly is assembled in France.
Why this Baltic table clock
Mechanical Rally Timers are hardly made anymore, and Hanhart remains one of the few manufacturers still producing dashboard chronographs. This model combines one such chronograph, with its flyback function, and a matching clock on a single base plate. The edition is sold out at Baltic and will never be reissued, meaning it is now only available second-hand. It can be mounted on the dashboard of a classic car for a regularity rally, or placed on its stand to serve as a desk clock that tells the time and acts as a stopwatch when needed.
Contents and condition
This Rally Timer is supplied on its own, without a case or paperwork, complete with its base plate, two instruments and two original Baltic stands. It is in very good condition, with the cases and base plate showing only slight signs of wear. Both movements have been checked by our experts. The clock runs normally, and the chronograph starts, stops, resets and restarts in flyback mode as expected. It can therefore be fitted in a car or placed on a desk as soon as you receive it.
Warranty and delivery
The Swiss Collector guarantees the authenticity of this clock, which is covered by a 24-month warranty. We accept returns within 10 days in accordance with our terms and conditions. As Switzerland’s leading second-hand retailer, backed by the largest network of shops, we offer online booking for a fitting and collection in-store, or fully secure international delivery.
* Very good condition – clock has been used. Slight signs of external wear. Case and base in excellent overall condition.
