London, 30 November 2022 – Car & Classic adds more glamour and intrigue to the long line of celebrity-owned collectable vehicles auctioned by its leading classic and specialist vehicle online auction platform: the very 350cc Yamaha Banshee quadbike owned by legendary British singer and TV personality Ozzy Osbourne, and which nearly killed its owner, is up for sale and cooking up a Blizzard (of Ozz).
The offroad quadbike’s long-standing success, with its two-stroke engine delivering both horsepower and powerband, almost matches its former owner’s mystique and world-wide fame, although this particular bike became infamous when it was crashed by Osbourne in 2003, with nearly fatal consequences.
A cracked vertebra, broken collarbone and eight ribs left him unconscious and temporarily unable to breathe, yet Osbourne proved that you can’t kill rock and roll by making a remarkable recovery.
Largely untouched in the 20 years since the accident, this bike stills bears some of the fascinating scars from that frightening day in the rock legend’s past. Authenticity and character are assured: the Banshee still sports damage to the front crash bar and a crack in one of the rear wings.
The rest of the styling simply confirms this bike’s status as a unique collectable, with its unmistakable red and yellow bodywork, combined with gold wheels, and full offroad specification.
The Banshee is fitted with a powerful 350cc engine, making this an extremely fast, off-road-only quadbike. The chunky tyres, capable suspension setup and easy-to-start motor (despite sitting idle for so many years), mean this Yamaha is just as useable as it is unique.
Even before the accident, the Yamaha Banshee was a highly regarded bike, to be treated with respect: warnings in the handbook explain that this quad is not for beginners. The most remarkable warning of all, however, can be found within the handbook; a handwritten note believed to be from Sharon Osbourne to her husband: “Be Safe”.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a rare and well-documented quadbike,” says Car & Classic Head of Editorial Chris Pollitt. ‘Regardless of its provenance, the Banshee is already a desirable vehicle, but its nearly-nefarious part in Osbourne’s life makes it all the more special.”
The Banshee is the latest of a long series of celebrity-owned vehicles auctioned by Car & Classic this year alone, joining Elton John’s Continental R, Eric Clapton’s Ferrari Modena and Elvis Presley’s Cadillac.
