1944 Triumph Other

3HW 59140

Clear

This is a 1944 Triumph 3HW from the military motorcycle collection in the Hamilton Triumph Motorcycle Museum in Apache Junction, Arizona. This motorcycle was on display until just recently when it was moved out to make room for new acquisitions. It comes with many new parts including battery carrier, battery, rubber battery box, NOS Lucas tail light, headlight switch and rubber grips. Correct parts manual is also included with the sale. When the Triumph factory in Coventry was bombed by the Germans in November of 1940, all of Triumphs blueprints, tooling and production capability was destroyed. It took Triumph over two years to get back into motorcycle production in their new factory in Meriden using reverse engineered designs of the prewar 3H machine. The Triumph 3HW 350cc single was the result. Triumph went on to manufacture a little less than 50,000 3HWs by the end of the war. It was an undersized dispatch motorcycle with 350 ccs compared to the more capable 500cc BSAs and Nortons. Therefore many, including this one, were sent to areas still occupied by the British Army but where no further conflict was occurring. As a result, today 3HWs which haven’t been civilianized are rare, particularly in the USA. This 3HW was used by the British Army in India at the end of the war and then was incorporated into the Indian Army when India’s independence was granted in 1947. It was eventually sold into private hands in India, then was obtained by a Netherland’s company in the early 2000s. It was exported to Holland and then eventually sold to a collector in Kentucky who sold it to us in 2005. We originally wanted to restore this machine to its WWII trim as its current configuration in desert colors and questionable markings were obviously incorrect. After positive reaction to its current look once on display in our museum, however, we decided to postpone restoration, This motorcycle obviously does not run. To be ridden, it needs a complete overhaul and new parts installed many of which are included with this sale. It has a few very interesting and hard to find parts including an original blackout head light and “sand stand” prop on the left side.Engine kicks with compression. This motorcycle has a clear Washington state title. Note: Bidders with feedback scores of less than 10 must have permission before bidding, otherwise their bids may be canceled. No bids from outside the USA and Canada will be accepted without written email permission.