Honda driven by Mike Hailwood can be auctioned for more than R$ 6 million

The English auction house Iconic Auctions has announced a Honda RC173 motorcycle, manufactured in 1966, which will be auctioned in mid-November. Due to its rarity, history and the condition in which the vehicle is, the house estimates that the motorcycle fetches a value between 750,000 and 950,000 pounds sterling (approximately R$ 5,2 million and R$ 6,6 million).

60 years ago, this motorcycle was used by British rider Mike Hailwood, who holds nine motorcycle world titles. This example alone was responsible for six victories in the 350cc category in 1966, as well as contributing to the rider’s seventh world title.

A little deeper into the history of the motorcycle, the auctioneers reported that the Honda was developed specifically for a rider who competed in the 250 and 500cc categories. Mike Hailwood owned the motorcycle until 1967, when he passed it on to be part of English banker Tom Wheatcroft’s personal collection, called the Wheatcroft Collection, at Donington. In 1997, the Wheatcroft family auctioned off the private collection, at which time the current owner acquired the motorcycle.

Over these almost 30 years of ownership, the owner restored the bike, making it work again and could be used in various events and parades in the United Kingdom. In 2005, the Honda Collection Hall in Motegi, Japan, offered the owner a complete reconstruction of the chassis and engine, keeping the original serial numbers of both the engine and the frame.

Within the auction lot, the motorcycle comes with several special tools, an original set of carburetor jets, its original support and a more modern version manufactured by Honda still at the factory, an acrylic plate for display in the Honda Collection Hall and a custom cover for the bike and windshield.

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