1961 Triumph 650cc Thunderbird

Always a step ahead of their rivals, Triumph followed up the trend-setting Speed Twin 500 of pre-war days by being first in the field with a 650cc parallel twin. Announced in September 1949, the 650 Thunderbird was Triumph's response to demands for more power emanating from American racers and British sidecarists alike. A spectacular launch stunt saw three Thunderbirds lap the banked Montlhéry circuit in France at over 90mph for 500 miles, after which they each achieved a flying lap of 100mph-plus and were ridden back to the Meriden factory, a quite outstanding achievement. When displayed at the Earls Court Show in October, the new 650cc twin featured the headlamp nacelle and fuel tank with luggage grid first seen on Triumphs the previous year. An interesting change to the Thunderbird for 1952 was the adoption of an SU carburettor in place of the original Amal, a specially prepared machine managing a staggering 155mpg at a steady 30mph on a factory organised economy run. The model remained in production in fundamentally its original form, though with progressively updated cycle parts, until the arrival of the unitary construction 650 range in 1962.

Dating from 1961, this 'bathtub' model Triumph Thunderbird has been fitted with a replacement engine from the same year. The Triumph was first registered on 20thJanuary 1961, with two former keepers noted on the HPI report, and is currently recorded as on SORN.

The motorcycle was acquired by the late owner in May 2024 and has not been used since purchase. The odometer reading of 8,588 miles is the same as that recorded on the 2000 MoT certificate on file, attesting to the fact that the machine has not been ridden since then.

The machine is offered with the following paperwork:

• Current V5C document stating two former keepers
• 1996 DVLA correspondence: application to register the machine under its original number '182 ED'
• A quantity of MoTs dating from 1988 at 3,991 miles (for the VRN 'JSU 836', which still correlates with the machine's frame number despite its being re-registered '182 ED') and February 2012 at 8,588 miles
• 2024 auction invoice
• Old V5
• Old V5C
• Expired tax discs
• Alligator 6V ignition instructions

Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed (the engine turns over). Accordingly, prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's completeness, history, authenticity, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding.
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