1955 Triumph 6T Thunderbird, 650cc. Registration number TRH ...

Hammer

£3,000

1955 Triumph 6T Thunderbird, 650cc. Registration number TRH 818. Frame number S72462. Engine number 6T 72462.
Sold with the V5C, V5, MOTs from 1997 to 2011, various receipts.
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.
Owned by our vendor since at least 1977, there are receipts on file for an engine rebuild in 1985, a comprehensive restoration in 1996/7, including engine, paint and stainless rims. It has MOT history from 1997 at 5,969 miles until 2011 at 17,256, today the odometer shows 17,262. It has seen little use recently but remains in very good condition.