1959 Triumph Speed Twin
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Highlights
- Sublime original feel and great condition
- Very nice under-saddle toolkit
- First ever unit-construction Triumph
The Appeal
This bike oozes classic motorcycle culture and is an icon of British motorcycling, a special bike in many aspects, it is very recognisable by its large steel bodywork to fend of the British weather, and a high revving short stroke engine which was in contrast to many engine designs of the era, with many units finding themselves stripped of the heavy bodywork and used to great success in racing. This is a lovely original bike, and a very nice example of the marque.
The History and Paperwork
- V5 Present
- Various DVLA and VOSA documentation included
The Condition
- This wonderful machine looks and feels so original, with the steel bodywork all in very nice condition
- The classic silver on black number plates really complete the look and set it off nicely, with the front mudguard plate being a very nice classic addition
- The saddle is in great condition, finished in grey and black with triumph detailing across the rear
- The smiths speedometer is very nice and appears to be the original unit, showing an impressive 59,525 miles covered, which speaks to the care with which this fine motorcycle has been kept
- The tank includes the chrome luggage rack mounted on the top, which is a lovely feature and would be ideal for a map pocket or small tank bag for longer excursions
- The under-seat electronics tray and tool compartment is a fantastic feature, a real joy to behold and includes everything you may need on a longer ride out on such a machine despite apparently missing one of the original spanners, it even includes a spare spark plug, tyre levers, and a handy shock absorber wrench should you wish to adjust the stiffness for carrying luggage or passengers
- Overall the brightwork is in very nice condition, clearly this fine machine has been lovingly cared for throughout its life. There are small marks and blemishes but nothing that would detract from the wonderful condition and add character and original feel
- The paintwork is very nice, and much like the brightwork only has small marks and blemishes associated with a long life of use, however it has been very well cared for and great care has been taken to ensure its condition has remained excellent
- All of the glasswork appears clear and free of any bad scratches or marks
- Lots of lovely Triumph chrome emblems throughout the bike really speak to the premium feel of this motorcycle, very nice to find all of these emblems present and in great shape
The Mechanics
- All of the components on this bike have evidently been well cared for, and display a very light patina worthy of its age and mileage, the whole bike has this wonderful feel of originality that is hard to come by in machines of this age
- The wheels appear clean and free of damage, with the drum brakes and hardware all appearing in good condition, and the tyres with plenty of tread remaining
- The forks are in a very nice original condition and show no evidence of leaking from the seals
- The high revving 500cc twin engine is in wonderful shape, showing no signs of leaks or drips, and continuing the lovely light patina theme of the rest of the motorcycle with excellent originality
- It is very nice to see the original Amal Monoblock 375 series carb adorning the motorcycle, appearing in good shape.
- All of the rubbers are present and still showing the triumph logos despite a long life of use
- The large sweeping twin exhausts look to be in excellent shape, really completing the look and proudly displaying the twin cylinder layout
- Being the very first of the unit construction, the engine and gearbox combined case appear in great condition, with levers and linkages all in good shape and ready for plenty more use
Summary
In summary, this is a very special machine, boasting a stunning original feel with only a very light patina, and although it is a very old motorcycle with a high number of miles covered, it feels as though it has only covered a fraction of the time and mileage. The unrestored and original feel is very welcome, with so many machines of this era now having been restored, an original feeling example is a very rare find in such excellent condition. Not only is the condition brilliant, but it is a machine with real pedigree, being the first ever unit construction Triumph motorcycle, and owing to its high revving engine could achieve a staggering 90mph, and as such found great success in racing of the time. A bike touting fantastic historic value, paired with wonderful condition and originality, this is a machine not to be missed.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
All bidding, buying and offers are subject to our Terms and Conditions.
Vehicle specification
- Year 1959
- Make Triumph
- Model Speed Twin
- Colour Maroon
- Odometer 59,525 Miles
- Engine size 500
Auction Details
- Seller Type Private
- Town Eastleigh
- Location Hampshire
- Country United Kingdom
11
bids
from 6
bidders
- Jo•••• £4,900 07/02/23
- ba•••• £4,800 07/02/23
- Jo•••• £4,700 07/02/23
- ba•••• £4,600 07/02/23
- Jo•••• £4,500 07/02/23
- mi•••• £4,100 07/02/23
- Jo•••• £4,000 07/02/23
- ch•••• £3,500 04/02/23
- ed•••• £3,400 04/02/23
- al•••• £3,200 04/02/23
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