1960 Triumph 650cc T120C Bonneville Frame no. T120-030015 Engine no. T120 030015
1960 Triumph 650cc T120C Bonneville Frame no. T120-030015Engine no. T120 030015
A bonafide blue-chip collectible now, Triumph's first-year Bonneville 650 was not everyone's idea of a "Tangerine Dream" in 1959, especially not in the USA where the color scheme was seen as a little too loud. Likewise, the rather conservative T110-esque styling was not so well received, what with its headlight nacelle and valanced fenders. Over here customers preferred the stripped-down look of the "off-road" TR6 Trophy models. Unhappy with unsold stock stacking up in dealerships, Triumph responded with a pair of restyled Bonnies for 1960, a low-pipe roadster and a high-pipe scrambler initially named the TR7/A and TR7/B respectively, soon superseded by more conventional T120R and T120C nomenclature.Both models featured a chromed headlight shell and rubber fork gaiters in place of the original overdone nacelle and steel shrouds. Sleeker fenders were pulled from TR6 stock, while the paint scheme was a much more appropriate Pearl Gray over Azure Blue. The restyled bikes were instant hits in American showrooms. Another, not quite so obvious change was the new twin-downtube duplex frame, an upgrade over the 1959 model's T110-based frame, which wasn't quite up to the task of harnessing the T120 motor's extra oomph.This matching-numbers 1960 T120C from a private Florida collection was professionally restored to original specification in England circa 2000 and brought to the U.S. in 2002. From early in the production run, it is equipped with the correct rubber-mounted remote float bowl feeding its twin Amal Monobloc carburetors.
As with all Lots in the Sale, this Lot is 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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1960 Triumph 650cc T120C Bonneville Frame no. T120-030015Engine no. T120 030015
A bonafide blue-chip collectible now, Triumph's first-year Bonneville 650 was not everyone's idea of a "Tangerine Dream" in 1959, especially not in the USA where the color scheme was seen as a little too loud. Likewise, the rather conservative T110-esque styling was not so well received, what with its headlight nacelle and valanced fenders. Over here customers preferred the stripped-down look of the "off-road" TR6 Trophy models. Unhappy with unsold stock stacking up in dealerships, Triumph responded with a pair of restyled Bonnies for 1960, a low-pipe roadster and a high-pipe scrambler initially named the TR7/A and TR7/B respectively, soon superseded by more conventional T120R and T120C nomenclature.Both models featured a chromed headlight shell and rubber fork gaiters in place of the original overdone nacelle and steel shrouds. Sleeker fenders were pulled from TR6 stock, while the paint scheme was a much more appropriate Pearl Gray over Azure Blue. The restyled bikes were instant hits in American showrooms. Another, not quite so obvious change was the new twin-downtube duplex frame, an upgrade over the 1959 model's T110-based frame, which wasn't quite up to the task of harnessing the T120 motor's extra oomph.This matching-numbers 1960 T120C from a private Florida collection was professionally restored to original specification in England circa 2000 and brought to the U.S. in 2002. From early in the production run, it is equipped with the correct rubber-mounted remote float bowl feeding its twin Amal Monobloc carburetors.
As with all Lots in the Sale, this Lot is 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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