1959 Triumph T120 Bonneville
From the Keith Mason collection

Registration No: Un-Registered
Frame No: T120 026569
MOT: Exempt

• Beautifully presented first generation Bonneville
• One of only around 400 Royal Blue and Pearl Grey models
• Restored by Tim Bardsley in Ontario Canada

A lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, Keith Mason started working in his local bike shop at the age of 15 before eventually branching out on his own a few years later. From humble beginnings selling secondhand bikes from a small shop, Keith built up the Moto GB empire to become one of the biggest motorcycle retailers and importers in the UK. The group has now grown to include 15 retail shops and is responsible for importing 9 different brands, also supplying many independent dealers, including QJ Motor, Voge, Lambretta, FB Mondial, Morbidelli, SYM and Hero. Keith sadly passed away in 2023, but in recent years he had put together a fantastic collection of his favourite classic bikes, ranging from a humble Honda Express to a beautiful Egli Vincent, documenting his lifetime in the trade. We are pleased to offer all 31 bikes from this collection in our March sale.

Triumph is one of the most iconic and revered names in the history of motorcycling. Established in Coventry in 1885, by the start of the 1900s, the company had made its first motorcycle beginning a continuous run of production under various ownership until its eventual closure in 1983, before its rebirth under John Bloor in the early 1990s. In 1937 the Edward Turner designed Speed Twin was released launching a range of Triumph twins that went on to epitomise British motorcycles in the post-war years. Many believe the T120 Bonneville, first seen in late 1958, to be the ultimate version of the classic British vertical twin and is now one of the most sought-after bikes of the era. The Bonneville name was used to commemorate Jonny Allens speed records at Bonneville Salt Flats and is probably the most evocative of the era, and was always placed on Triumph's best performing bikes. The 'Holy Grail' for Triumph collectors is the one year only first generation T120, identifiable by its single downtube frame and nacelle headlamp. By 1960, the bike had been modified with a duplex frame and a separate headlamp, making the early models very much sought after. This excellently restored example is one of just over 400 finished in the rare Royal Blue and Pearl Grey colour scheme, rather than the more common Tangerine and Grey. According to a fascinating report prepared by Shawn Brittain of Brittain Appraisals in Canada, which will be included in the sale, it was restored by Tim Bardsley in Canada, and his assessment rates everything as 'excellent'. You will find it hard to see a more authentically restored T120, nothing has been overdone and it looks like it has just rolled off the production line in Meridan nearly 70years ago. This machine is being sold as a collector’s item, part of Keith Masons stunning private collection of Vintage and Classic machines, which have all been dry stored for several years and will require recommissioning before use.

For more information, please contact:
Ian Cunningham
ian.cunningham@handh.co.uk
07415871189