LOT 465

1964 Triumph 649cc T120R Bonneville Registration no. not registered Frame no. T120 DU9129 Engine no. T120 DU9129

Sold for £5,750 inc. premium

Lot 465

1964 Triumph 649cc T120R Bonneville

The Spring Stafford Sale - The International Classic MotorCycle Show|22 April 2023, 11:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

1964 Triumph 649cc T120R Bonneville
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. T120 DU9129
Engine no. T120 DU9129

Hurriedly prepared for its debut at the 1958 Earls Court Show (it was too late for inclusion in the 1959 catalogue) Triumph's Bonneville 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.

Its newness notwithstanding, the Bonneville remained recognisably similar to Edward Turner's Speed Twin of 1938. Unitary construction of engine and gearbox was already a feature of the 350 and 500 twins though, and this innovation duly appeared on the 650s in 1963. The café racer's favourite since its launch in 1959, the Bonneville continued in this new form as Triumph's top-of-the-range sports roadster.

This collectible T120 Bonneville dates from 1964, by which time most of the handling problems associated with the earlier versions' twin-downtube frame had been rectified by the successor single-tube design. The Triumph was restored in 2000 by Sean Kelly's Restoration Replication in California. Sean Kelly (of Johnson Motors fame) owned the shop next to Bud Ekins' workshop. Never run since the restoration's completion, the Bonnie will require recommissioning before further use. Offered with NOVA confirmation printout.

Footnotes

All lots are sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.

Saleroom notices

The full frame number is: T120R DU9129 The full engine number is: T120R DU9129

Additional information

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