1965 Triumph 6T Thunderbird, 650 cc. Registration number EFW...

Estimate

£4,000 - £5,000

1965 Triumph 6T Thunderbird, 650 cc. Registration number EFW 706C. Frame number 6T DU20186. Engine number T120 ND31309.
Sold with the V5C, key, some history.
One of the most important developments in the history of Triumph's long-running parallel twin was the introduction in 1957 of unitary construction of the engine and gearbox, an innovation extended to the 650 range for 1962. A new alloy cylinder head was adopted at the same time, and the engine/gearbox unit went into a new single-down-tube frame with bolt-on rear sub-frame. Three 650s were offered initially: The Thunderbird tourer, Trophy trail bike, and Bonneville sports roadster. Improvements were made on an annual basis: new forks and 12-volt electrics (the latter on the Thunderbird only at first) arriving for 1964 and a new frame with revised steering geometry for 1966. Mid-way through 1966 the Thunderbird was dropped from the range together with the 3TA and 5TA tourers, their passing marking the final disappearance of Triumph's characteristic headlamp nacelle.
EFW was owned by Brian Slater of Lincoln in 1997 before selling it to John Turner of Lincoln in 1999 who sorned it in 2019. In 2021 it was entered in Spicers July auction as a project and bought by our vendor. He has comprehensively restored it back to a period colour combination, although he states one or two very minor points need finishing.
It is believed to be an ex Police machine and the engine was changed to the current Bonneville T120 c.1997. There is MOT history from 1997 at 473 miles, 2015 at 521 and 2016 at 525 miles.
There are two videos of it running.