1964 Triumph Tiger

T100SC H34613

Clear

1964 Triumph T100SC 500cc Engine Number: T100SC H34613 Frame Number: H34613 In 1964, Bud Ekins put together the first American team to contest the ISDT, held that year in East Germany. It consisted of Bud, brother Dave Ekins, McQueen, Cliff Coleman, and John Steen. Bud, the Triumph dealer and longtime stalwart of the brand, elected to run in the 500-cc class with T100SCs for himself, Dave, and Steen, while a pair of TR6SCs were destined for Coleman and McQueen to run in the 750-cc class. The ISDT that year was grueling, with constant rain, unfamiliar terrain, and world-class competition. McQueen was at a disadvantage right from the start, as he’d raced and practiced in the arid California desert. And yet they were immediately competitive, ending the second day tied in points for the lead with Britain. McQueen told a reporter, “At this stage, I was definitely lined up for a gold medal and going hard. Part of the last run of this second day was over an open road cutting through a forest. I was dicing with the British champ, Jon Gills, a marvelous racer, and we were moving along at full chat in the rain. We could figure where the highway would bend by watching the way the trees lined up. But we got fooled because at one point the trees marched straight ahead while the road turned. We came into this turn, full turkey leg, at about eighty—and began sliding for traction. I went off the road and down into a cart truck, taking a fall. I saw marks where other riders had got themselves into the same kind of trouble. My cheek was cut from the goggles but nothing was broken, so I picked the twigs and leaves out of my ears and looked around for my bike. The tail pipe was smashed. I groaned, flipped a tool out of my back pocket, and bent the pipe back into usable shape.” On offer here is one of the rarest 1964 Triumphs built, with a production run of only 342 bikes. This matching numbers machine has been fully restored from the ground up. Not a perfectly original specification restoration, but a good one, nonetheless. It has an incorrect rear light/license plate mount and footpegs, but the rare and correct small QD headlamp. The frame was powdercoated and is adorned by all freshly restored cycle parts, including relaced wheels, fresh tires, all redone braking and suspension and a fresh electrical system. The engine and gearbox were thoroughly gone through and run and shift perfectly. The bike was treated to a new Amal carb. It has been built with rideability and reliability in mind, including a Boyer ignition system. This is a great opportunity to acquire the rarest Triumph of 1964 in superb restored and riding condition.