LOT 103

1951 Triumph 498cc Speed Twin Registration no. not registered Frame no. 4553NA Engine no. 5T 4553NA

Sold for £5,750 inc. premium

Lot 103

1951 Triumph 498cc Speed Twin

The Autumn Stafford Sale - The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show|12 October 2024, 14:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

1951 Triumph 498cc Speed Twin
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 4553NA
Engine no. 5T 4553NA

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 the Coventry firm's newcomer established a formula that would be adopted by all of Britain's major motorcycle manufacturers in the succeeding decade. And whereas previous vertical twins had suffered from excess bulk, Turner's was lighter and narrower across the crankcase than the contemporary single-cylinder Tiger 90, and from certain angles looked just like a twin-port single. Performance proved exemplary for a road-going 500, better than 100mph being attainable under favourable conditions.
Boasting Triumph's newly introduced telescopic front fork and the Turner-designed sprung hub, this Speed Twin was imported from the USA and has been restored (the engine turns over). The odometer reading of 106 miles is presumed to be the distance travelled since restoration. The machine is offered with a State of Colorado Certificate of Title incorrectly recording the VIN as '5T453NA'. There is no UK registration document with this Lot but this machine is offered with a NOVA declaration.

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 12 October starting at 2pm GMT.

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