LOT 497

1951 Triumph 650cc 6T Thunderbird Registration no. KNM 364 Frame no. 16738 NA Engine no. 6T 16738 NA

Estimate: £8,000 - £10,000

Lot 497

1951 Triumph 650cc 6T Thunderbird

The Autumn Stafford Sale – The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show|14 October 2023, 10:30 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

1951 Triumph 650cc 6T Thunderbird
Registration no. KNM 364
Frame no. 16738 NA
Engine no. 6T 16738 NA

This early Triumph Thunderbird was delivered new to Bryant's of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire on 24th November 1951 and left the factory equipped with the sprung rear hub. The current vendor acquired the Thunderbird in February 2015 as a restoration project (photograph on file), which was completed in 2017 by him and a motorcycle enthusiast/mechanic friend. Works undertaken included stripping and refinishing the frame and cycle parts; bead-blasting and rebuilding the engine; cleaning and restoring the sprung hub to working order; rebuilding the wheels and fitting new tyres; rewinding the magneto; relining the brakes; and fitting a new seat, wiring loom, control cables, etc. (There is a video of the machine running, which can be viewed on the Bonhams website.)

The Thunderbird has been ridden occasionally and to the Oakley Motorcycle Club (Bedfordshire) meets and ride outs, otherwise it has been kept dry stored in the garage. It was last run in August 2023. The (believed original) speedometer shows a total of 67,809 miles however, we are advised by the Vendor only 200 of which have been covered since the restoration. Accompanying documentation includes a TOMCC dating letter; sundry restoration invoices and work-in-progress photographs; three tax discs (oldest 1951); and photocopies of the original buff logbook and current V5C.

Footnotes

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