A 1936 Triumph 6/1 650cc twin-cylinder motorcycle. Registrat...

Hammer

£9,000

A 1936 Triumph 6/1 650cc twin-cylinder motorcycle. Registration number CXR 878 Frame number V505. Engine number 1V6507 First registered 24 04 1936. An older restoration of a rare, pre-war Triumph, now requiring additional work. The Triumph 6/1 was made in their Coventry factory but only manufactured between 1934-35, estimates of the total number built vary between 100 and 600. Designed by Valentine Page primarily for use as a sidecar hauler, it was the first Triumph motorcycle to use a parallel-twin engine. At this time, light motor cars such as the Austin Seven and the Morris Eight were growing in popularity and overtaking the heavyweight motorcycle/sidecar market for which the 6/1 was developed. In 1934 it cost £76, and as such, it was then Triumph’s most expensive bike. These factors meant it was not a commercial success and production ended in 1935. It did have some notable successes in competition. Triumph's sales manager Harry Perry, entered a Triumph 6/1 attached to a Triumph Gloria sidecar in the grueling International Six Days Trial in 1933, just missing out on a gold medal in the sidecar class due to the repair of a front tyre; he returned to England with a silver medal. This combination was then taken to Brooklands and under the supervision of the Auto Cycle Union (ACU), was ridden 500 miles in 498 minutes. This test won Triumph the 1933 Maudes Trophy, an impartially-observed endurance test for motorcycles. This private Cornish collection of motorbikes has been entered for sale by the family of the late collector. They have been dry stored in a container, and prior to this in a large garage/workshop. They were all running at some point during his ownership, although most have not been run in recent years, and none recently. We have not seen any running, although none appear to be seized. If you are considering purchasing one of these machines we strongly advise viewing in person.