LOT 213

Property of a deceased's estate 1939 Triumph 499cc Speed Twin Registration no. not registered (see text) Frame no. T.H.8345 Engine no. 9-5T-17543

Sold for £12,650 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

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Lot 213

Property of a deceased's estate, 1939 Triumph 499cc Speed Twin

The Spring Stafford Sale - The International Classic MotorCycle Show|20 April 2024, 14:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

Property of a deceased's estate
1939 Triumph 499cc Speed Twin
Registration no. not registered (see text)
Frame no. T.H.8345
Engine no. 9-5T-17543

Although Edward Turner's Triumph Speed Twin caused a sensation when it appeared at the 1937 Motorcycle Show, few of its admirers can have guessed how influential the design would prove to be. True, there had been vertical twins before; indeed, Turner's predecessor at Triumph - Val Page - had designed one a few years previously, but Triumph's newcomer established a formula that would be adopted by all of Britain's major motorcycle manufacturers in the succeeding decade. Light, narrow and from certain angles looking just like a twin-port single, it was just what the conservatively minded motorcycling public wanted and the Speed Twin would prove enormously successful. Performance was exemplary for a road-going 500, around 85mph being attainable by the Speed Twin while the Tiger 100 sports version was even faster, being capable of touching 100mph in road trim and exceeding it with the silencer end-caps removed. When production resumed in 1946, the Speed Twin reappeared with telescopic forks in place of the original girders, and separate dynamo and magneto instead of the pre-war version's magdyno.

An older restoration, this pre-war Speed Twin comes with a continuation buff logbook dating from 1958 for the registration 'CTM 569', which may assist the successful purchaser in retrieving the lapsed registration mark and re-registering the machine.

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.

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This Lot will be auctioned on Saturday 20 April starting at 2pm GMT.

Additional information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact client services.
Buyers Premium and Charges
Buyers Premium and Charges
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