Tudor launched in 1976 its third generation of chronographs, fitted with an automatic movement for the first time, twelve years before Rolex fitted the Daytona with a self-winding movement.

The case was made thicker to accommodate the rotor of the new Valjoux 7750 automatic movement, earning it the nickname "Big Block" in collectors' circles.

The Ref. 94200 was the first reference with the additional 12-hour indicator positioned at 6 o'clock. The chronograph hand and the minute numerals on the dial are orange, as in its predecessors.