The 1996 Yamaha Banshee quadbike that nearly killed Ozzy Osbourne was recently sold for £10,500 ($12,893) by the U.K auction house, Cars & Classic. Osbourne crashed the ATV in 2003 and nearly met his maker after sustaining a cracked vertebra, a broken collarbone and eight broken ribs. The injuries left him unconscious and temporarily unable to breathe. Osbourne made a full recovery because you can’t keep the Prince of Darkness down.
The Banshee has been largely untouched in the 20-years since the accident and retains damage to the front crash bar and a crack in one of the rear wings. It has a 350cc two-stroke engine that helped earn the Banshee the nickname, “King of the Dunes”.
In a bit of ominous foreshadowing the Yamaha’s manual has a handwritten note believed to be from Ozzy’s wife, Sharon, simply stating, “Be safe”. The pedigree of Ozzy’s former quad bike is backed up by documentation from his estate manager and photographs matching the vehicle’s damage from the accident.
‘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,” said Car & Classic Head of Editorial Chris Pollitt.
Ozzy Osbourne was incredibly fortunate to have survived that horrendous accident two decades ago. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised he endured. He always had a never say die attitude.
Ozzy had three wheel atv?