Jeff,
Since I am first to respond here, I think this is something I expected to have as a discussion among Heuer collectors, since I am one myself.
With the design of the Prototipo, I wanted to create a watch that looked as if it could have existed in the early 1970s but which is very modern upon closer inspection of the detailing and caseback. Since other companies who were around back then continue to give us very unsatisfactory re-issues and other tribute watches, I wanted to make a vintage styled watch that captures what I love about that time period.
Although you could claim it resembles a Montreal at first glance, it looks nothing like one when placed side by side. The same could be said of any other barrel cased chrono such as an Omega Speedy Mk2, or even some of the Breitling datora models. In short, when designing these pieces, I was indeed making citations and references to various vintage watches. But I wanted to make above all a modern watch for lovers of those watches, rather than just "copycat" them. I hope this approach will not be lost on your readers, and I invite you to look at all the perspective views of the case, not just judge the front view by itself.

Kind regards,
Bradley Price
www.autodromo.com

: So what do we think of these, which do bear some resemblance to
: the Heuer Montreals?

: Here is an introduction of these watches, from Hodinkee --

:
: http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/introducing-the-autodromo-prototipo-and-prototipio-vic-elford-limited-edition

: So are these in the "We wish TAG Heuer had done this"
: category? Thumbs up or thumbs down? Homage or knock-off?

: Jeff

:
:
: [image from Hodinkee posting]