Mike Hailwood rode the Honda RC181 to victory in the 1967 500cc Isle of Man TT.
The RC181 was Honda’s four-cylinder Grand Prix racer for the premier 500cc class. Hailwood won the Senior TT on it in 1967, adding another major victory to his remarkable Isle of Man record.
The motorcycle was designed specifically for racing rather than road use. Its four-cylinder engine reflected Honda’s growing commitment to the 500cc championship after success with smaller multi-cylinder machines.
The RC181 is sometimes confused with Honda’s RC166, the six-cylinder 250cc machine associated with Hailwood. The RC166 competed in a different class, while the RC181 was Honda’s 500cc contender.