Description
From Healey Competition Department Origins to Modsport stardom; SID1 offered for sale.
We are pleased to offer for sale, SID1, an Austin-Healey with an interesting period racing history, documentation and current FIA passport, this car is available for the 2024 season.
Built in 1959, dispatched to Healey Competition Department to receive racing modifications before delivery to the first owner, Liz Jones of Buckinghamshire, England. The car was dispatched with registration 3716 NX. This Austin-Healey has been a successful competition car all its life.
Liz Jones, raced and rallied the car throughout the 1960’s until ‘3716 NX’ was sold to Syd & Thelma Segal. It didn’t take long before the car was coined with that famous plate, SID1 and campaigned in the Modsports championship. In 1975 the car was exported to Sweden where it continued to race. Between 1987-1995 the car was restored to current FIA specification and has been racing every year since 1999.
The car has been prepared and maintained and is offered with UK delivery and worldwide shipping available, this is a perfect candidate for the world’s best events from Goodwood, Silverstone Classic to Le Mans Classic and historic club racing in the UK and Europe.
Wouldn’t it be great to take this car back to Goodwood and Silverstone and race just as Liz Jones did, 65 years ago…?
Starting life on the racetrack
This Austin-Healey 3000 was destined for a life in competition. The first owner, Elizabeth “Liz” Jones was a keen privateer racer and took delivery of the Healey on New Years Eve 1959, after the competition department had completed modifications to set the car up for racing.
Liz Jones raced the car from the start and was eventually successful and by 1961 she was supported by Paul Hawkins. (Hawkins; probably most famous for being one of only two people who has ended up crashing into the harbor at Monaco).
Starting life with reg 3716 NX, the desire for more speed meant the car raced in many guises but had notable outings at the 1961 Goodwood members meeting 10 lap scratch race, Silverstone 6 hour relay and the Autosport Snetterton race where she finished 2nd in over 2L GT car class. Liz Jones campaigned the car before moving to Austin Mini Coopers and selling the car to Syd and Thelma Segal in 1963.
Syd Segal
3716 NX was driven daily by Thelma Segal, and she rallied the car at the weekends, but it didn’t take long before Syd had got behind the wheel and started racing the car, still under 3716 NX reg.
The car started to be developed throughout the late 1960’s and into the 1970’s as the rise in popularity of “Modsports” continued, a series which saw modified wide arched Lotus Elans, Jaguar E-Types, Healey 3000s and other British sports cars battle it out.
These cars captivated audiences and fans who still recall those mighty days. Syd wanted to join the party and in his modified Healey, 3716 NX became SID1 and Syd raced against ex-works car SMO 746 and probably the most recognizable modsports 3000 of all, DD 300 driven by John Chatham, amongst others.
SID1, with its instantly recognizable plate was featured in a test drive feature by the magazine Cars and Car Conversions in 1971 and it was on their cover the car was called "SHEER TERROR".
Whilst Syd didn’t win any races, it gained a following and notoriety and raced all over the UK and even took the trip to Zandvoort in Holland.
Syd then sold the car in 1975 and it was exported to Sweden.
Healey racing Sweden
Sweden, alongside many European countries has a large following for the Austin-Healey and in 1975, SID1 was exported to Sweden by Healey enthusiast, Ulf Lydholm, who continued to race and develop the Healey, so much so, it became quite unsightly with additional bodywork and aerodynamic aids to help its racing success. Some would say, in 1979, SID1 was ‘saved’ and brought into the care of a number of important owners who, over the next 20 years would restore SID1 back to its original look and importantly, conforming to strict FIA homologation for modern historic racing.
Under new ownership in 2008 until the present day, SID1 has been raced in Sweden every year until 2023 and it also travelled to the UK for the Healey Driver International races at Silverstone and Castle Combe.
The car resides in Sweden but worldwide delivery and import is available and shipping to the UK is included in the price.
Current day
The car is now available for the 2024 season and has current FIA homologation, a recent gearbox refresh and engine rebuild which is running on song.
The car is presented in a used but usable condition and offers a unique opportunity to purchase a racing Healey with period history with a range of possibilities that could be exploited from FIA racing in its current format to modified saloons.
SID1, in dark blue and white nose, the car is instantly recognizable and would continue to make for a special historic racer with interesting history.
SID1 would also make for the ultimate historic special saloons & modsport racer by returning the car to wide body as this would be the ONLY remaining original Modsports Healey in original spec still racing today. (the others are now FIA racers or not racing).
Or, the most compelling, to convert the car to original livery, ice blue bodywork and the 3716 NX registration as a Liz Jones replica and enter the car to the Goodwood Members meet or Revival, taking this Healey back to where it started life on track at Goodwood 65 years later.
Import and Registration.
Upon inspection and sale, this vehicle can be transported to the UK and imported, this service is included in the price of the vehicle, but worldwide shipping is also available, and worldwide shipping can be quoted on request.
Bill Rawles Classic Cars Ltd are selling this vehicle on consignment and offer advice and consultation on purchase and suitability to your requirements. More information is available upon request and the buyer must satisfy themselves that information presented is correct. Due to export of this Austin-Healey, in 1975, 3716 NX registration may be available but cannot be guaranteed on registration to the UK roads but the vehicle can be raced, as in period, with either registration number. SID1 was only ever a racing registration and is not available to be UK road registered with this plate.
