1959 Triumph Thunderbird 6T
This actual bike was pictured with Edward Turner in 1959

Registration No: 892 ANX
Frame No: 026995
Engine No: 6T026995
CC: 650
MOT: Exempt

• Triumph chairman Edward Turner photographed sitting on '892 ANX' when new in 1959
• Restored by Triumph specialist Kevin Ince in 2009, and part of a private collection since 2016
• Run recently but will need a light recommissioning, supplied with various articles and a current V5C

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 their first motorcycle beginning a continuous run of production under various ownership until its eventual closure in 1983. In 1937 the Speed Twin was released launching a range of Triumph twins that went on to epitomize British motorcycles in the post-war years.

This Thunderbird has a fascinating history and is photographed with Triumph Chairman and designer of the twin cylinder engine Edward Turner at the controls. In May 1959 the Triumph factory sponsored a cross channel 'Triumph Owners Go Abroad' (TOGA) rally where 188 bikes, including 31 sidecar outfits, traveled to Brussels. On the trip were a few journalists and to quote Motorcycle News reporter Peter Howdle, 'In France, Triumph chief Edward Turner waited with his Daimler and led us to the Dunkirk war cemetery to pay tribute to the bikers of both world wars, Turner was a wireless operator in the merchant navy during WW1. Development chief John Nelson was tail end Charlie of a colourful procession that stretched out along the motorway to Brussels in the morning sunshine. Triumph used a photograph of the stream of bikes taken from a motorway bridge for the cover of the 1960 catalogue'. During the trip, Edward Turner was photographed sitting on ‘892 ANX’, one of the few photographs ever showing him together with one of his classic designs. The bike was ridden on the rally by Bill and Hazel Roachard, at the time fitted with a Wessex sidecar. Years later the bike was restored to a very high standard by Triumph specialist Kevin Ince and sold to the current owner in 2016 to go into his private collection of classic bikes. It has been used recently but will require a light recommissioning before use and comes supplied with copies of various articles and photos showing its provenance together with a current V5C.

For more information, please contact:
Ian Cunningham
ian.cunningham@handh.co.uk
07415 871189