One of the most significant motorcycles associated with legendary racer Mike Hailwood is set to attract considerable interest at the Iconic Auction at the NEC in November. The factory Honda RC173 350cc four-cylinder Grand Prix machine is the only example in existence, offering a rare opportunity to acquire an important piece of motorcycle racing history.
1966 Honda RC173 | Estimate £750,000 - £950,000
Born near Oxford in 1940, Hailwood became one of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time, winning nine World Championships, 76 Grand Prix races and 14 Isle of Man TT victories. He also enjoyed success on four wheels, finishing third at the 1969 Le Mans 24 Hours in a Ford GT40, before making his celebrated TT comeback in 1978. Tragically, Hailwood died in a road accident in 1981, aged just 40.
1966 Honda RC173 | Estimate £750,000 - £950,000
Honda built the RC173 specifically for Hailwood to contest the 350cc World Championship alongside his 250cc and 500cc campaigns. In 1966, he secured the title with victories at six Grands Prix, beating formidable rivals including Giacomo Agostini and Renzo Pasolini. Hailwood retained the machine after the season and raced it at selected invitation events in 1967.
1966 Honda RC173 | Estimate £750,000 - £950,000
The motorcycle later formed part of the Wheatcroft Donington Collection before being sold by the Hailwood family in 1997 to its current UK-based owner. Subsequently restored to running order, it was loaned to Honda’s Collection Hall in Motegi, Japan, in 2005, where it received a comprehensive chassis and engine rebuild while retaining its original matching engine and frame numbers.
1966 Honda RC173 | Estimate £750,000 - £950,000
Presented in running order, the Honda comes with an assortment of original and period-related accessories, specialist tools, documentation, photographs and Goodwood Festival of Speed memorabilia. Combining exceptional rarity with an illustrious competition history, this unique RC173 represents a remarkable opportunity for collectors to own a machine directly connected to one of motorcycle racing’s greatest champions at the Iconic Auction this November.
The Mike Hailwood Honda RC173 will be among more than 100 motorcycles offered at the Iconic Motorcycle Auction at the NEC Birmingham on 15 November. Showcasing an exceptional selection of historic, classic and collectible machines, the auction presents a fantastic opportunity for enthusiasts and collectors to discover some truly remarkable pieces of motorcycle history.
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