Description
MIS 2023 STOCK
Triumph Jubilee Bonneville
NEW OLD STOCK
Never run since leaving the factor
Triumph Bonneville Silver Jubilee 1977: The Best of British - IN THE SHOWROOM AVAILABLE NOW : NOTE THIS BIKE HAS NOT BEEN RUN SINCE IT LEFT THE FACTORY .....
Model History
To coincide with celebrations in Britain marking the 25th year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, Meriden hit on the idea of a special edition of the Bonneville. It's distinctive trim featured silver, as well as patriotic red, white and blue. Originally it was announced that the Jubilee Bonneville would be made in a limited edition of 1000 and the first batch side panel badges bore the legend "One of a Thousand".
However, demand for the machine was sufficient to persuade the Cooperative to release a further 1000 T140 J's with the wording altered to read “Limited Edition ". A further batch, generally agreed to have been about 400 machines, were produced for the International market, being Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The wording on the side panel badges, again being altered to read "Limited International Edition". Each machine was sold with a certificate of authenticity, which differed between the U. K. and U. S. markets. (The US. documents were slightly more elaborate than the UK version, and embossed)
The Jubilee appealed to collectors who wanted a machine as much for ornament as for riding, or as a sentimental souvenir of a British motorcycle industry which in 1977 looked set for extinction. As a result, a high proportion of T140J's have remained in totally original condition.
Engine numbers on the Jubilee followed the same sequence as the other models models but with a J suffix (e. g. GP84166J). For 1977 engine numbers began at GP84166 on the 16th June.
All outer engine cases, primary drive cover, gearbox outer cover and timing cover were finished in bright chromium plate, applied on the aluminium alloy.
The Jubilee introduced "upside-down” girling gas shock absorbers fitted with their pre-load adjusters uppermost. Like the standard oil-damped units, they featured chrome springs. Probably wisely, the factory opted not to change the black enamelled finish of the Jubilee's frame and swinging arm.
The wheels on the Jubilee were clearly different in terms of finish. Instead of being in plain chrome, each wheel rim had a blue central band with white inner and red outer pin striping, painted over the plating.
The Jubilee's original tyres were a Dunlop K91, 4. 10 x 19in at the front and a 4. 25 x 18in at the rear, with red lining and directional arrows on the sidewalls.
The Jubilee's seat was the first of a design which would (apart from the special colours) become standard on all Bonnevilles for the following year. The familiar aeration on the seat top had gone, replaced by a narrower crosshatched panel. On the jubilee the panel was covered in blue vinyl along with the rest of the seat. Red piping ran round the top perimeter of the rear portion before running downwards along the sides and looping back up towards the front of the seat. The lower rubber trim was blue with the decorative chrome stripe, the Triumph logo was displayed in silver as were the words “Silver Jubilee " on the back of the unit.
Mudguards were painted rather than chromed on the Jubilee Bonnevilles, and followed the scheme of the wheel rims. A centre stripe of blue flanked by white inner and red outer pin striping was applied over a base coat of silver.
This machine
Is as new. It’s never been started since leaving the UK in 1977. From what I know it was actually sent to Canada where it lived in a museum for many years. It was then put up for auction in 2014 at the Mecum event in Las Vegas Nevada where it was acquired. Imported into the UK it has remained in climate controlled conditions, never started, just admired.
It could be made road worthy and road legal but this would require some time and money as I would suggest after 40 years inactivity the engine and all running gear would need attention.
