Property of the late Alan Windsor, 1961 Triumph 649cc T120R Bonneville

Registration no. 905 RTN Frame no. D14674 Engine no. T120R D14674

• Purchased in 1987
• Believed an older restoration
• Last MoT'd 1993-1994

Hurriedly prepared for its debut at the 1958 Earls Court Show (it was too late for inclusion in the 1959 catalogue) the 'Bonnie' arrived at a time when young motorcycle enthusiasts wanted style as well as substance and had the money to pay for it. Finished in striking two-tone Tangerine/Pearl Grey with matching mudguards and black cycle parts, the bike was a real looker and the name 'Bonneville', chosen in honour of Johnny Allen's record-breaking achievements with his Triumph-powered streamliner at the eponymous Utah salt flats, was an inspired piece of marketing.
Although, ostensibly, the Bonneville was little more than a T110 fitted with the splayed-port cylinder head and twin carburettors, there was, of course, more to it than that. As well as the performance-enhancing top end, the Bonneville, together with the rest of Triumph's twins, incorporated a new, stronger crankshaft assembly that development had shown was necessary to cope with the increased power. The latter now stood at 46bhp, an improvement of some 15% over that of the contemporary single-carb T110. Works tester Percy Tait had achieved 128mph at MIRA on a development bike, and even though this figure proved beyond the reach of the production version, the Bonnie was at least as fast as the opposition and much better looking, which was all that mattered.
Apparently an older restoration, this well presented 1961 Bonneville was acquired by Alan Windsor in July 1987. Accompanying paperwork includes a five-page, hand-written report on its condition when purchased and the various non-standard components fitted: most notably the later TLS front brake and nine-stud engine top end. There is also a list of restoration works carried out but no related bills. A total of 2,525 miles is displayed on the odometer, which is believed to be the distance covered since the rebuild. The machine appears to be in good cosmetic condition but will require re-commissioning to a greater or lesser extent before further use. Its mechanical condition is not known. Additional documentation consists of the original old-style logbook; an expired MoT (1994); an old-style V5C; and a quantity of DVLA correspondence.
Offered without key