£9,000 - £12,000
1970 Triumph Bonneville T120, 650 cc. Registration number GWT 52J (Not registered with DVLA). Frame number T120/JD 58987. Engine number JD.58987.
In 1951 BSA bought the assets of the Triumph Motorcycle Company and there were many initial problems between the two concerns as the Triumph twin was a better machine than the BSA. The TR6 Trophy and 6T Thunderbird were aging and frumpy but when Stormy Mangham rode his streamliner to a record 193 mph on the Bonneville Slat Flats using Jack Wilson's tuned 650 Thunderbird engine the legend was born. Triumph launched the Bonnie in 1960 using twin carburettors and revised styling, with redesigns and improvements every year.
What many people reckon as the ultimate Bonnie arrived with the launch of the 1968 model, it was capable of a top speed approaching 120 mph with powerful acceleration. The frame had been sorted, the 12 volt electrics worked, it had a twin leading front shoe and Amal Concentric carbs. For the next couple of years only minor tweaks were needed until it was replaced by the oil-in-frame model in late 1970, soon after the Triumph/BSA group failed.
This, UK, matching numbers bike was first registered on the 13th October 1970 to the Allan Jefferries, dealership of Shipley who sold it to Jack Cracknell on the 23rd of October. A year later Bryan Lockwood had it before it went to Arnold Moore Motors of Huddersfield in 1973; they sold it to Henry Bently who sold it to John Ainley in 1975. It then went to a gentleman called Harry who used our vendor to service it for a couple of years. The last MOT was in 1976 with a mileage of 22,668. When he passed away our vendor bought it in a very poor state from the estate in the late 1980's/early 1990's. It sat in his store until he retired when he set about the comprehensive rebuild, some six or seven years ago.
The rebuild was at a mileage of 22,891 with a full engine and gearbox rebuild including bearings, new carburettors, the body (Astral red and silver) and frame fully restored and painted with new Wassel rims and tyres, new exhaust and wiring loom.
Unused since this iconic machine is sold with a V.E.60, the 1976 MOT, a 2011 MOT and will require very little to recommission for the road.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Free Registration
23.6% inc VAT*
Flat Fee Registration
20.00% inc VAT*
