Help Needed: Identifying My Grandfathers Triumph

dhallmedia · Aug 30, 2022

Hi,

my grandfather recently passed and left his lovely old triumph with my grandma. She needs to sell it unfortunately and I would like to be that buyer. (I am a stranger to all things motorcycle but keen to keep his pride and joy in the family.

the problem is I have no idea what model it is or the going rate for such things.

I believe it’s a bit of a Frankenstein bike as he customised it over the years but I was hoping it would still be recognisable to you guys.

condition wise: it hasn’t been ridden in 15 years so doesn’t run and is a little worse for wear but otherwise it looks pretty good!

Thank you in advance for any help, it’s really appreciated. I hope this is an okay use of the forum, if it’s in the wrong place please let me know.

If any more information or photos are needed please let me know.

Thanks,
David

Slingshot_Daytona_97 · Mar 26, 2023

It looks like a T120 which is what we call a Unit type engine. That means the engine and gearbox are all in the unit together, so pre 1965 bikes are normally Pre-Unit, i.e. the gearbox is seperate to the engine.

Search below.

triumph t120 for sale - Bing images

Slingshot_Daytona_97 · Mar 26, 2023

The 120 means it would do 120 mph by the way. The T150 differs as it has an oil cooler behind the forks, your bike has no oil cooler so it makes me think it is a T120.

You can get a V5 from DVLC if you have lost it.

Adie P · Mar 27, 2023

First things first - sincere condolences on the loss of your grandfather.

Sorry @Slingshot_Daytona_97 but some of that isn't quite correct, the bike pictured is, or, more accurately was originally, a 500 Speed Twin (5TA). If you expand the image you can see the denomination in the engine number (5TA H34978) stamping on the drive side crankcase. It's definitely NOT a T120 Bonneville.

@darkman should be along shortly to tell you EXACTLY what it is, when it was built, what spec. it was in when it left Meriden, etc., etc. He IS the font of all knowledge on unit construction Meriden twins.

Regardless, there are a number of anomalies immediately clear from the picture - the 'P' registration being the most obvious. It must have been re-registered at some time in it's past life, perhaps an import? I don't think 5TAs were being produced by the Meriden Co-operative in 1975 which is the year of registration denoted by the P suffix - but I'm happy to stand corrected on that. A number of parts on the bike don't, for me, look quite right for the bike - front mudguard; speedo; seat but it could, perhaps, be that the bike has had an engine change, rather than the cycle parts being anomalous.

As I said, @darkman, will have the authorative, expert's view but, suffice to say that, like all old Triumphs, it's well worth preserving and getting back to road use condition regardless of the alleged anomalies!

Good luck with it - be interested to see how it progresses.

darkman · Mar 27, 2023

I think you have said it all Adie, 1964 5TA, here is a pic of what it should look like, to restore it correctly would cost around £6/10,000 in parts and any engineering works req plus the labour costs if you don't do it yourself and the value of the bike done could be around £7000 if totally correct. It's probably worth £1/1500 as it is.