A 1977 Triumph Bonneville ‘Silver Jubilee’ 750 in incredible time warp condition is set to be auctioned by leading specialist online auction site, Car & Classic.
One of only 1000 ‘Silver Jubilee’ motorcycles allocated for the British market, one of 2400 built in total, this Triumph Bonneville was supplied new to a UK Triumph dealer in 1977. Initially unregistered for the road, the bike became a display item, its first owner only parting with it in 1996. The second owner registered the bike with an age related number plate while maintaining the originality of the regal machine which has barely been ridden since the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. It now presents in impeccably preserved condition with delivery mileage showing on its odometer – just 7.7 miles.
The Triumph Bonneville is an iconic bike in its own right, the ‘Silver Jubilee’ “Bonnie” was a rare special edition souvenir, created to mark the 25th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne. Based on a T140 model, it was given a bespoke metallic silver paint scheme, red, white and blue accents, and additional chrome and commemorative decals. Each was supplied with a signed certificate of authenticity from Triumph, carrying the approval of Buckingham Palace making it fit for a King or Queen.
This motorcycle shows very little wear since the day it rolled from Triumph’s factory at Meriden in Coventry. Entirely original and unrestored, it is free from any of the deterioration you would expect of a vehicle its age – even all of the special ‘Silver Jubilee’ badges and stickers are present and correct. Given its dignified life of luxury on static display, the bike’s matching-numbers air-cooled 744cc parallel twin engine is not currently in running order, it would be an ideal candidate for recommissioning should its new keeper feel royal enough to ride it.
Underlining this majestic machine’s originality, it is accompanied by its factory-supplied owner’s handbook, unused original tool kit and a substantial history file. In addition, comes correspondence from the Triumph Owners Motorcycle Club confirming its authenticity and underlining its rarity, just 81 examples were known to the club back in 1996.
“The Triumph Bonneville enjoys an enduring appeal for riders of all ages, this special version with such an unbelievably low mileage is sure to pique the interest of the biking community,” says Car & Classic’s Dale Vinten. “This time capsule motorcycle really does offer a rare opportunity for Triumph collectors and enthusiasts to own an unrepeatable piece of British motorcycling history.”
