The Anthony R. East Classic Motorcycle Collection, 1937 Triumph 500cc Tiger 90

• Acquired by Tony East in 1998
• Restored by Bryan Small Motorcycles circa 1998/1999
• Last taxed in May 2012

"In 1932 they (Triumph) were fortunate enough to gain the services of Val Page who joined them from Ariel... Page was quiet, modest, a gentleman and a brilliant engineer who saw that the hard times called for well designed motorcycles without frills or gimmicks. Cheapness, reliability, simple construction and easy maintenance were what was needed and he set to work to provide these features in a range of singles that were to carry the firm to the end of the decade and through the war." - Roy Bacon, Triumph Singles.

Just as he had done at Ariel in the 1920s, Val Page transformed his employer's ageing range on his arrival as Triumph's Chief Designer in 1932. The new line-up comprised overhead-valve and sidevalve singles in capacities ranging from 250cc to 500cc, plus the range-topping 650cc 6/1 sidecar tug. Endowed with distinctive timing-gear covers - a feature Page would employ at BSA later in the decade - the engines were simple yet robust in construction and amenable to a fair degree of tuning in the case of the overhead-valve units. Edward Turner's arrival at Triumph in 1936 resulted in extensive improvements to the range. A brilliant stylist, Turner transformed the Page-designed overhead-valve singles by adopting sports specification engines, high level exhausts, chromed fuel tanks and a new name: 'Tiger'. While its smaller siblings survived until the outbreak of war in 1939, the 500cc Tiger 90 was not produced after 1938, having effectively been superseded by the faster – and cheaper – Speed Twin.

This rare pre-war Triumph single comes with an old-style continuation logbook (issued 1952) recording licensing up to 1965 and the names of three owners: two in the London area and one (the last) in Buckinghamshire. Tony East acquired 'DLU 732' in November 1998, the previous owner being a Mr Arthur Hodges of Essex, its keeper since 1996. Accompanying paperwork includes numerous invoices relating to the Tiger's restoration by Bryan Small Motorcycles circa 1998/1999 totalling £6,912; some Tennant-Eyles invoices for mechanical work in 1984; old/current V5C documents; and five old MoTs (most recent expired 2010). An original parts catalogue and a Pearson maintenance book are included in the sale. Restored throughout and very nicely presented, the Tiger was last taxed in May 2012 and currently displays a total of 553 miles on the odometer.