1956 Triumph Trophy

TR681572

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THIS IS A SERIOUSLY BEAUTIFUL MOTORCYCLE. Hardly used to win trophies, this Triumph is coveted more as a Matchbox®. A work of industrial art hammered out in aluminum, chrome and stove black laquer, it starts on the first kicks and will idle patiently all day. Just over ten years ago, with all parts intact, minus a muffler, it was respectfully restored, kept original as possible, with suspect wear issues addressed. A round of seals and gaskets for the whole bar, please. All finishes were authentically repainted, replated or just plain polished back from death. As the refurbished Smiths Chronometric testifies, the engine was rebuilt and refreshed 474 miles ago as needed from the crank up, to stock specifications with original mechanical spares, including top end once-over pistons/rings and rebuilt Amal Monobloc. The bottom end received bearing transplants. Only a new clutch for a healthy gearbox that snicks on cue. Steering head bearings and seals for the front forks, swingarm. No dazzling rocket science performed here. More like Neolithic blacksmithing or farriering for Honorable Mention in the annual summer 4-H agricultural workshop. Mechanical parts were inspected, refurbished or replaced with NOS as needed, with most just cleaned and reassembled. A necessary few were sourced along the way from private collections and unsung heroes, such as Bruce Holland of Olalla, Washington. Factory racer, dealer and modest star in On Any Sunday, he rebuilt the motor and mounted the fresh, crackly, still usable for show, NOS twenty-inch Dunlop Trials tire up front, particular for this bike. A good friend and guilty associate of Bud Ekins, he is a keeper of our flame. Look him up, offer him reverence when hunting down unobtanium and advice. This Trophy was rebuilt among friends for show, and go, and could compete in vintage competition if decided after a few frothy pints of yeasty crankcase oil and a shot of courage. Cosmetically, new pattern replacement parts are minimal, limited to a seat cover /foam on original pan, Hagon shocks, a modern Japanese trials tire mounted on an 18-inch rear English rim with stainless spokes, a Jones 20-inch front English rim with stainless spokes, an English exhaust pipe and muffler, assorted Allen head stainless case screws. The Lucas magneto is rebuilt and converted to function in auto-advance with manual conversion still an option. There’s also an oil tank anti-sump valve to lessen maintenance. All else is refurbished original to the bike, including the wire harness. Don’t swear, it’s fine and peeks out beautifully in all the right frame spots. Besides, the instruments and lights work as new. There is a no-maintenance battery 6v battery hidden in the biscuit tin. There is also the necessary hope chest of original spares, including a headpipe, rear shocks, rear wheel rimlocks, engine case screws and registration plate for the front fender. CUTTING TO THE CHASE. While 1960/70 era unit Triumphs are common, in many different art forms, 1950 pre-units seem less so. A Trophy is even harder to find. This bike’s condition and completeness is rare. And respectfully, so is the buyer. This is an almost perfect pre-unit Trophy experience for anyone more curious than in a fastidious clone restoration of mixed parts. This motorcycle is transparent and honest in all the critical areas without any signs of neglect or abuse. Overall, it has the fit and finish of an honest showroom bike without overgloss. It looks period. Hardly a few years old. The patina of all finishes is spectacularly gorgeous, appropriately aged. No wrecks, no dents, tears or botches. It is practically perfect minus an accidental scuff on the petrol tank as shown. It functions like an old bucket of new, unstripped bolts. The petcocks weep. The crankcase vent burps onto your shoe when starting. Truthfully, motorcycles like this are thrilling in the catch and sad to release. But way too incredible not to share. It will be a pure prize for someone who wants to pick up on the road to an unexplainable love affair they may have started in 1956 where the pavement ended and desert met the sky. Damn, so simple, so lovely. So alluring, it defies the notion that newer is better. Something so analog, it transcends our digital veneers. Whittled down to a kickstart and a kill switch, it hot wires our soul back together. Conceived when less was more, it hangs elevated in our psyche of simple perfection with a Gibson guitar, a Nikon F body, an enchanting companion and a summer to wear them all out. It is a British motorcycle. PICKUP. Within one hour of Wilmington, Delaware / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania local area