Willie Nelson's trademark braids have sold for $US37,000 at an auction in Arizona.

The braids were cut off in the 1980s when Nelson's hair was still red and were the most talked-about item in the Arizona auction of items owned by the late Waylon Jennings, Nelson's cohort in the "outlaw country" music movement of the 1970s.

Jennings was given Nelson's braids at a 1983 party thrown by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash to celebrate Jennings' sobriety.

The identity of the buyer was not disclosed.

Also sold was Buddy Holly's Ariel Cyclone motorcycle for $US450,000.

The motorcycle, bought by the rock 'n roll great in 1958, was given to Jennings by members of Holly's band years after Holly was killed in a plane crash in 1959.

"It represented to him great love for a friend and possibly part of his healing," Jennings' widow, Jessi Colter, said last month when announcing the auction details.

American country music singer-songwriter Waylon Jennings in 1974. ( File Photo: Wikimedia Commons )

Jennings had been playing bass for Holly's band and was going to ride with him on the plane instead of taking the tour bus on February 3, 1959, but gave his up seat for JP 'The Big Bopper' Richardson, who had been ill.

The plane crashed, killing Holly, Richardson, Ritchie Valens and pilot Roger Peterson.

Jennings, who had a cocaine addiction for several years, died in 2002 at age 64 of diabetes complications.

His hit songs included Ladies Love Outlaws, Are You Ready for the Country, Bob Wills Is Still the King and Luckenbach, Texas.

He also recorded two duets with Nelson: Good Hearted Woman and Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.

The auction was staged by the New York-based Guernsey's auction house at the Museum of Musical Instruments in Phoenix, Arizona.

Buddy Holly (right) and the Crickets, riding motorcycles including Buddy's 1958 Ariel Cyclone 650cc, in Dallas in 1958. ( Supplied: Guernsey's Auctions )

Reuters