Art News

Japanese and Italian Motorcycles Join the Line Up at Bonhams Stafford Auction

STAFFORD.- A wonderful selection of classic Italian and Japanese motorcycles are among the highlights of Bonhams annual sale at the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show in Stafford on 16th October 2011. The 1979 Ducati 864cc Mike Hailwood Replica in the auction is offered for sale by its original owner and has covered fewer than 23,000 miles from new. A landmark model that kept Ducati afloat during the 1980s, the Hailwood Replica owes its existence to Mike’s legendary Isle of Man TT comeback victory in the 1978 Production Race riding an ex-works NCR bike entered and prepared by Manchester-based Ducati dealer, Sports Motor Cycles. Unrestored, the Ducati comes with full history from new (estimate £7,000 – 10,000). Another Italian thoroughbred, but even rarer, the 250cc Villa V4 on offer is a faithful replica of Francesco Villa’s doomed Grand Prix racer of 1969, which was rendered obsolete by the FIM’s rule chan