1955 Triumph Thunderbird

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UP FOR AUCTION IS A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE 1955 TRIUMPH 6T THUNDERBIRD WITH MATCHING FRAME AND ENGINE NUMBERS. THIS BIKE WAS MOSTLY RESTORED FROM THE GROUND UP ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO. ACTUAL MILEAGE IS UNKNOWN. THIS BIKE IS COMPLETE AND IN VERY GOOD MECHANICAL CONDITION AND THE ELECTRICS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO 12 VOLT FOR BRIGHTER LIGHTS, AND A BETTER RUNNING MACHINE OVERALL. THE 1955 THUNDERBIRD WAS THE FIRST YEAR FOR THE SWINGARM/SOFTAIL REAR END THAT TRIUMPH MADE, AND DOES RIDE QUITE A BIT NICER THAN THE EARLIER RIGID/HARDTAIL FRAME MODELS. THIS BIKE IS BY NO MEANS IN "SHOW" CONDITION, BUT IS IN OVERALL VERY GOOD CONDITION. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT ARE NOT ACCURATE FOR THIS YEAR/BIKE WHICH ARE THE FOLLOWING: TANK BADGES - THE TANK ITSELF IS CORRECT FOR THE YEAR, BUT NOT THE TANK BADGES, REAR FENDER - THIS IS A TRIUMPH REAR FENDER FROM A LATER AND DIFFERENT MODEL, BUT THE FENDER LOOKS GOOD ON THE BIKE, TAIL LIGHT AND MOUNT - THIS IS NOT CORRECT FOR THE YEAR, BUT LOOKS CLEANER AND IS LESS CLUNKY THAN THE ORIGINAL TAIL LIGHT AND MOUNTING BRACKET, SOLO SEAT - THIS BIKE ORIGINALLY HAD THE DOUBLE SEAT, BUT AGAIN FOR AESTHETIC PURPOSE I THINK THE SOLO SEAT MAKES THIS A SHARPER LOOKING BIKE. INSTRUMENT GUAGES AND NACELL CONFIGURATION - THE AMMETER IS NEW, BUT IS THE SAME STYLE AS ORIGINAL, THE SPEEDO IS A SMITHS CHRONOMETRIC, BUT IS NOT CORRECT FOR THIS BIKE. I WILL INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATE SMITHS SPEEDO WITH THIS BIKE THAT IS CORRECT FOR THE YEAR (SEE PICTURE) THE KILL SWITCH HAS BEEN TURNED INTO AN IGNITION TYPE SETUP WITH A KEY. THIS IS NOT ELECTRIC START, BUT THE KEY MUST BE IN PLACE TO START THE BIKE. OTHER INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS - THE DIP SWITCH, HORN BUTTON, CLUTCH AND BRAKE LEVERS ARE ALL NEW, BUT STYLED CLOSELY TO ORIGINAL PARTS, AND CERTAINLY WORK BETTER THAN SOME OF THE OLD LUCAS ELECTRICAL PARTS I HAVE SEEN. THERE WERE A FEW MINOR MODIFICATIONS THAT WERE MADE TO THE REAR END OF THE BIKE TO USE THE NEWER FENDER, AND ATTACH THE SOLO SEAT, BUT THESE CAN BE EASILY REVERSED AND PUT BACK TO ORIGINAL WITHOUT ANY ISSUE. THERE WERE NO PARTS OF THE FRAME REMOVED OR CUT IN ANY WAY, JUST SOME TABS ADDED TO USE AS MOUNTING POINTS. OTHER KNOWN ISSUES ARE: SOME MINOR ELECTRICAL WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE REAR BRAKE LIGHT STAYS LIT, AND THE PILOT LIGHT IS NOT WORKING? BATTERY WILL NEED A GOOD CHARGE, OR NEED TO BE REPLACED. SIDE STAND DOES NOT SEEM SECURE ENOUGH FOR SOME REASON IT SEEMS TO GO PAST THE MIDWAY POINT AND WILL NEED TO BE FIXED.THAT IS ABOUT IT FOR NON-ORIGINAL PARTS/MODIFICATIONS, AND THE KNOWN ISSUES. THE CURRENT SPEEDO IS STUCK, BUT I AM SUPPLYING AN ORIGINAL SPEEDO WITH THE AUCTION. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT NEED TO REPLACE THE SPEEDO CABLE WHEN SWITCHING THIS OUT? I WILL ALSO INCLUDE AN ORIGINAL SPARE PARTS GUIDE WITH ALL ORIGINAL PARTS LISTS AND NUMBERS, AS WELL AS A WORKSHOP MANUAL WITH PARTS BLOW UPS, TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS, ETC. FOR ALL YOUR MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS.THIS BIKE RUNS EXTREMELY WELL, AND HAS GOOD COMPRESSION. IT WAS RUNNING A BIT ON THE RICH SIDE THE LAST TIME IT WAS STARED, SO YOU MAY NEED TO ADJUST THE CARB A BIT (AMAL MONOBLOC). THIS BIKE IS BEING SOLD AS IS WITH A CLEAR TITLE, AND THE BUYER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCAL PICKUP OR ARRANGING AND PAYING FOR ALL RELATED SHIPPING NEEDS AND COSTS. I WILL HELP WITH SHIPPING/LOADING THE BIKE AS NECESSARY, BUT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER TO MAKE ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR FREIGHT. THE WINNING BIDDER MUST MAKE AN IMMEDIATE NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT PAYMENT OF $250 AT THE END OF THE AUCTION THROUGH PAYPAL, WITH THE BALANCE BEING DUE WITHIN 10 DAYS OF THE AUCTION END PAYABLE BY CERTIFIED CHECK, BANK CHECK, OR MONEY ORDER. I AM WILLING TO CONSIDER ALTERNATE PAYMENT TERMS, BUT ONLY IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A VERY RARE BIKE TO FIND IN THIS CONDITION, ALMOST COMPLETELY ORIGINAL, WITH MATCHING NUMBERS, AND ALMOST FULLY RESTORED, WHEN PLACING YOUR BID. THE RESERVE IS SET TO A VERY FAIR PRICE, NOT TOO MUCH MORE THAN THE PARTS ALONE ARE WORTH. HAPPY BIDDING, AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.