There are very few helmet liveries motor racing fans around the world would instantly recognise—but the Hill family colours is one of them. In an era where drivers often opted for single helmet colour or a version of their school tie, Hill’s loyalty to his rowing club saw him carry the design from one sport to another.

Prior to his foray into racing, Hill was an extremely competitive rower and competed in major regattas for the London Rowing Club. From the earliest part of his circuit career, Hill’s helmet was painted with the London Rowing Club’s dark blue with white oar blades. The Hill colours would become world famous again when his son Damon appeared on the Formula 1 grid with Williams, eventually clinching the 1996 Drivers' Championship and making history as the first family to have two generations of Formula 1 World Champions.

This helmet was produced by Bell and carries a 1970 Snell label inside. Still in Hill’s classic configuration of a clear visor with a peak attached, this historic helmet appears fully race worn. During a time when a driver would use a helmet for a season or more, this helmet has been proven to be used from the beginning of 1972, the entirely of the 1973 season and three races at the start of 1974. Furthermore, Hill would have worn this helmet before it gained recognisable chips so it is very likely that he used it for some of 1971. Extremely rare and with perfect provenance, this helmet is an essential piece for any major helmet collection.