S.O.E. Roadster - Williams

William Grover-Williams, born to a British father and French mother, became famous for his cunning on the racetrack and his British Racing Green cars. A top British Grand Prix driver in the 1920s, he notably won the inaugural Monaco Grand Prix in 1929. During World War II, he joined the S.O.E., working in France to build sabotage networks. Captured by the Gestapo in 1943, he was sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp, where he was reportedly executed in 1945. However, some believe he survived, changed his identity, and continued working for the British government.

From a practical standpoint, the 24 disc on the S.O.E. Roadster is a 24 hour dial. The raised indices mark the hours. In design, the large number and circle nod to the numerical designs you would often find painted on the side of race cars.