Entire Garelli GP collection for sale

Large collection of classic motorcycles, including ex-Merkel RC30

TWO DOZEN Garelli Grand Prix motorcycles are coming up for auction in Paris.

The machines, currently owned by one man, have been kept in a private chapel and date back to pre-war but also include important motorcycles from Garelli's heyday in the 1980s.

Highlights include the 1963 Garelli 50cc Monza world-record-breaker (estimate £40,000 - £55,000); the ex-Eugenio Lazzarini 1983 50cc racer that helped Garelli to the manufacturers’ World Championship that year (estimate £10,000 - £15,000); and a 1987 example of the 125cc twin that won six riders’ World Championships and four manufacturers’ titles during the 1980s (estimate £5,000 - £8,000).

Also forming part of the collection are two important non-Garelli racing motorcycles: the ex-Fred Merkel Honda RC30 ridden by the American World Superbike champion during the 1989/90 season (estimate £15,000 - £23,000), and the 1989 Yamaha TZ250W used by French star Jean-François Baldé during his final season of Grand Prix racing (estimate £2,500 - £3,500).

The Bonhams auction takes places at the Grand Palais in Paris in 6-7th of Feb 2013.