1952 Triumph 6T Thunderbird, 650 cc. Registration number NSV...

Hammer

£5,200

1952 Triumph 6T Thunderbird, 650 cc. Registration number NSV 334. Frame number 62933R. Engine number 6T 72657.
Always a step ahead of their rivals, Triumph followed up the trend-setting Speed Twin 500 of pre-war days by being first in the field with a 650cc parallel twin. Announced in September 1949, the 650 Thunderbird was Triumph's response to demands for more power emanating from American racers and British sidecarists alike. A spectacular launch stunt saw three Thunderbirds lap the banked Montlhéry circuit in France at over 90mph for 500 miles, after which they each achieved a flying lap of 100mph-plus and were ridden back to the Meriden factory, a quite outstanding achievement. One of the most significant subsequent developments was the introduction of a swinging-arm frame for 1955 but prior to that time Triumph twins could be ordered with the optional 'sprung hub' (designed by Edward Turner) which offered a limited amount of rear suspension movement.
Triumph got an unexpected marketing shot-in-the-arm when Marlon Brando rode a black 1950 Triumph Thunderbird in the movie "The Wild One". Triumph quickly responded by introducing an entire line of black T-Birds, aptly nicknamed the Triumph Blackbird.
This example, although dated to 1952 by the DVLA V5C, would appear to have been one of the last rigid frame example from early 1955 by the frame number, the engine would equally appear to date from 1956. It was first registered with DVLA in 1983, presumably when it was restored and had a couple of owners before Jem Speed Shop of Batley took it in part exchange in 2018; our vendor bought it from them but has only ridden it sparingly.