Number 6
Registered user
5 years ago I bought the bare bones of a 1965 Bonneville TT and since then I've been steadily collecting bits for it ready for when the time was right to start the rebuild. I've also got 4 other Triumph projects waiting in the wings and so I really need to crack on and make some progress. This being the simplest, no lights and minimal electrics, and also the most valuable (I intend to sell it when finished) I decided to get this one done first. I've restored several old British bikes over the last 15 years, mainly Triumph twins and triples so I'm no stranger to the challenge of sourcing good-quality parts and services. I do as much of the work myself as is possible including wheel-building , painting and electro-plating of fasteners and small parts. Chrome plating and powder coating I leave to the specialists. (Castle Chrome and Triple S respectively)
So, back to the bike. It was imported back to the UK by a dealer who didn't really know what it was, he advertised it on Ebay as a 'T120 Trophy' I knew it was a T120C Bonneville but what I didn't know was whether it was a T120C TT or a T120C Competition Sports, also known as a 'Scrambler'. I was hoping it was the latter but that turned out to not be the case.
After winning the auction and picking the bike up I found it had no speedometer drive, a 17 tooth gearbox sprocket and ET (Energy Transfer) battery-less ignition system. These things all pointed to it being a 'TT' competition bike, that's USA TT (Flat Track with Jumps) as opposed to Isle of Man TT). After sending off the required documents to the Triumph Owners Club for a dating certificate it was confirmed via factory records as being a West Coast TT despatched to Johnson Motors, Pasadena, California on the 11th February 1965. Not the Competition Scrambler I was hoping for but still a very rare and collectible bike.
Now for some background info:-
From the late 1950s two thirds of Triumph bike production went to the USA, and many were quickly converted to competition use being much lighter and faster than the Harleys of that time. In 1963 the US importers asked Triumph to supply ready-made competition bikes which they did. The twin carb T120C Bonneville for TT and Flat Track, and the single carb TR6C Trophy for desert racing, AKA the Desert Sled. In both cases 'C' standing for Competition.
In 1965 the T120C was sent to the USA in four configurations, West Coast TT and Scrambler and East Coast TT and Scrambler. The only way to identify the exact specification of any particular bike is from the engine and frame numbers in the original factory despatch records which fortunately still exist.
I was hoping my bike was a Competition Scrambler, like this :-
But it's actually a West Coast TT like this :-
Either way, they are both very rare and desirable bikes.
So, back to the bike. It was imported back to the UK by a dealer who didn't really know what it was, he advertised it on Ebay as a 'T120 Trophy' I knew it was a T120C Bonneville but what I didn't know was whether it was a T120C TT or a T120C Competition Sports, also known as a 'Scrambler'. I was hoping it was the latter but that turned out to not be the case.
After winning the auction and picking the bike up I found it had no speedometer drive, a 17 tooth gearbox sprocket and ET (Energy Transfer) battery-less ignition system. These things all pointed to it being a 'TT' competition bike, that's USA TT (Flat Track with Jumps) as opposed to Isle of Man TT). After sending off the required documents to the Triumph Owners Club for a dating certificate it was confirmed via factory records as being a West Coast TT despatched to Johnson Motors, Pasadena, California on the 11th February 1965. Not the Competition Scrambler I was hoping for but still a very rare and collectible bike.
Now for some background info:-
From the late 1950s two thirds of Triumph bike production went to the USA, and many were quickly converted to competition use being much lighter and faster than the Harleys of that time. In 1963 the US importers asked Triumph to supply ready-made competition bikes which they did. The twin carb T120C Bonneville for TT and Flat Track, and the single carb TR6C Trophy for desert racing, AKA the Desert Sled. In both cases 'C' standing for Competition.
In 1965 the T120C was sent to the USA in four configurations, West Coast TT and Scrambler and East Coast TT and Scrambler. The only way to identify the exact specification of any particular bike is from the engine and frame numbers in the original factory despatch records which fortunately still exist.
I was hoping my bike was a Competition Scrambler, like this :-
But it's actually a West Coast TT like this :-
Either way, they are both very rare and desirable bikes.
What are you going to the engine?
)
