c1950 Triumph GP Replica

Description

Triumph's first motorcycle emerged from its Coventry factory in 1902 and the company went on to become one of the most famous names in the history of two wheels. Almost from the very beginning Triumph proved the worth of its products in competition, with Jack Marshal scoring an Isle of Man victory as early as 1908, and set numerous speed records along the way. The early post-WWII period was a golden age for Triumph, with booming sales both at home and abroad and after a long absence, a return was made to racing under the direction of Freddie Clarke, head of development, and Henry Vale, who was in charge of the competition shop. This resulted in the equisite, limited-production Grand Prix model, a highly developed road-racing T100 with forged pistons, polished con-rods, a BTH racing magneto, twin Amal Type 6 carburettors and a twin megaphone exhaust system. The frame was also modified, with a shorter wheelbase, racing clutch, ribbed brakes and special 4-gallon fuel and 1-gallon oil tanks. The Grand Prix had no speedo, just a Smiths competition rev counter and could reach something like 120 mph. Ernie Lyons rode a GP to win the 1946 Manx Grand Prix and, after several near misses, Triumph finally won at Daytona in 1950 thanks to Rod Coates on a privately-entered Grand Prix. A GP won the Isle of Man Grand Prix again in 1948 with DG Crossley and they could be found on grids well into the 1950s. Triumph subsequently offered a 'Race Kit' for the T100 to meet the demand for privateers unable to get their hands on a GP, with similar equipment to boost power of the standard T100's 32 horsepower to 42 horsepower, culminating in the T100C of 1951, with an alloy head and cylinder barrels. Just 175 of the original GP bikes were made, almost all destined for racing, and the few genuine survivors are sought after collector's pieces today, fetching huge prices.