Up For Sale,

this piece of motorcycle history, 

a Triumph Speed Twin 500cc motorcycle, so what is special about this model? well it saved the life of Triumph for a long time to come, 

in the year 1937, with Hitler rising and the depression still crippling much of the world, a motorcycle was for many a luxury, just 2 years later Brough Superior ceased manufacture of their motorcycle, and the world was at war, enter Edward Turner, who had created the Ariel Square Four years earlier and was no stranger to multi-cylinder engines,

 he produced the first truly successful parallel twin engine and in the Speed Twin, the engine was compact thanks to Turner’s brilliant design that allowed him to package a twin-cylinder 500cc, into a narrower crankcase than the company’s singles of the same displacement, it produced more horsepower and torque than its counterpart singles while being smoother and more friendly to ride,

 

28bhp was sent through the pre-unit construction four-speed gearbox and allowed its pilot to hit a top speed of 90 mph or 145kmh and here is the real kicker, at the time it was only £5.00 more than the single!

after the war the British were back and would spend the next few decades dominating the two-wheeled world, with parallel twins at the centre of excellence. BSA had the Gold Star Twin, Norton had the Dominator and the Commando, Matchless the G9, AJS the Model 20 and for his last design at Triumph, Edward Turner launched the Bonneville T120, so back in the late 1930s Edward Turner really did give Triumph the lifeline it needed! 

and endless engineers have followed Turner’s path to this day, from Honda’s new Africa to the rampaging KTM 890, brand new offerings from Suzuki and Honda, and the amazing success of the latest Royal Enfield, twin is the word, a Brough Superior cost more than an annual wage in the ’20s and ’30s and these days you’ll need to be rich to own one,  

but from that same period, this Speed Twin is up for auction on CollectingCars.com – and is sitting at £2,000 with just hours to go,

from the seller's catalogue:

KEY FACTS 

•         A well-preserved Triumph Speed Twin from the early phase of production. 
•         Power comes from the 498cc OHV vertical parallel-twin, coupled to a four-speed transmission.  
•         Originally revealed at the 1937 National Motorcycle show, the Speed Twin was widely regarded as the first truly successful British parallel twin, setting the standard for many twins to follow.  
•        After World War II the Speed Twin was responsible for the survival of Triumph, and several major British marques offered a 500cc twin designed on similar lines. 
•         This example has now been with the seller for two years. 

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES 

•         This Speed Twin comprises a frame from 1938, and a slightly later engine from 1939.  
•         It is finished in Maroon, with silver fenders, yellow-backed ‘48’ competition plates, and a black seat pad.  
•         It has Girder forks, a Triumph crank with Morgo conrods, and a TT carburettor.  
•         Accompanying the vehicle will be a certificate of authenticity from The Triumph Owners Motorcycle Club, its Historic Racing machine registration certificate, a printed owner’s manual, and a printed programme for the September 1976 Vincent HRD Owners Club Cadwell Park Road Races.  

CONDITION      

  The maroon paintwork has an age-related patina, and some light wear and discoloration can be seen on the fuel tank, fenders and painted mechanical components.  

       The seller reports that the bike is in good running order, and can be kickstarted. It has been racing as recently as two years ago.

SUMMARY 

This is a well-preserved, early-production example of the Triumph Speed Twin, which presents with a handsome patina. A former race bike, it would now make an eye-catching addition to a motorsport-themed collection, or a rewarding restoration project for a Triumph enthusiast.   

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details. 

interested? you had better be quick!