Description
This motorcycle is Lot 74 to be auctioned by Bonhams at The Spring Stafford Sale (The International Classic MotorCycle Show) on April 25th & 26th, please see the Bonhams Motorcycles Website for full details.
Auction Timings:
Lots 1 - 94 are to be sold from 14:30 on Saturday 25th April 2026.
Lots 201 - 353 are to be sold from 11:30am on Sunday 26th April 2026.
Public Viewing:
Available 25th & 26th April 2026 from 09:00 until 17:00, at The Staffordshire County Showground (The International Classic MotorCycle Show).
The Connoisseurs Collection, Part II
** c. 1963 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson 250cc Ala d'Oro Racing Motorcycle**
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 141132
Engine no. N148 Crankcase mating no. A106
** The Lot is from outside the UK. Shippio Ltd must automatically uplift this Lot after the auction, complete all post sale import or export customs administration, and store this Lot until it is customs cleared. A compulsory fee of £350 + VAT will be added to the buyer's invoice for this. This Lot cannot be collected from the auction venue by the purchaser or any alternative transporter.
If the Lot is to stay in the UK or is not exported within 90 days of sale, Import VAT at 5% on the hammer price is payable.**
Aermacchi is a household name among motorcyclists thanks to its heroic achievement of producing the most highly developed and successful overhead-valve racing single ever: the Ala d'Oro (Golden Wing). Although the pushrod Aermacchi never won a World Championship race, it did achieve a number of 2nd places, Alan Barnett's in the 1970 Junior TT on a Lawton Aermacchi being one of the most memorable. Despite a lack of ultimate success in Grands Prix, the Aermacchi single was outstandingly successful at national level and today, having benefited from another four decades of development, remains a competitive force in Historic motorcycle racing.
Sympathetically restored to substantially correct specification, this particular Ala d'Oro appears to be associated with Tom Howitt, whose name is on the fairing. Tom Howitt was a well-known British privateer racer, active primarily in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He competed at leading UK circuits including Mallory Park, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park and Brands Hatch, campaigning British and Italian machinery in club and national events.
By 1995 this machine formed part of a large and important UK private collection of racing and sporting motorcycles offered for sale by Wavetone Ltd in Northamptonshire (see advertisement and newspaper article on file). At that time the Aermacchi was inspected by an appropriate specialist and found to be in 'very good condition', while the engine was said to have been fully rebuilt by celebrated marque specialist, Syd Lawton. It was also noted that the machine had a Dave Arnold frame. The fairing fit was criticised but otherwise the motorcycle was considered fully functional and one of the better examples the aforementioned specialist had inspected (see file).
The Aermacchi was purchased by our vendor via the aforementioned private tender in the mid-1990s (paperwork on file).
Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning and/ or restoration to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the racetrack and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's completeness, history, authenticity, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding. The engine turns over.
Key not required
All lots are sold ‘as is/ where is’ and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams Motorcycles website for all pertinent auction information.
