Here’s an evocative shot taken of the assembly line in the Meriden workshop. The pieces come together to create a machine where the sum greater than the parts. A Golden Age of the British motorcycle industry soon to wane only to re-emerge like a phoenix from the ashes to where it stands as a proud builder of Brit-Motos!
None of this fair-weather cruisin’ for the lads and lasses in blighty! For the autumn and winter months in you need to wrap up and get out on the roads. Pannier rack and caked on road grime for the ’65 moto at the side of the road shows a rider intent on getting out for a no matter what. The damp pavement surface, leafless trees, grey misty distance; I feel a need for a warming cuppa at the transport cafe down the road! “Make it a pint of tea; milk, no sugar!”
Our Man McQueen seen here with an intense look waiting for some desert scramble to commence. Beat-up helmet, goggles to keep the dust out of his eyes, old trusty leather jacket and an electrical tape #152. His bike of choice for these SoCal weekend races was typically a Triumph TR6 650cc sled.
The bike was set up with high open pipes, a large air filter and deep cushy seat; to negotiate the rocks, sand and bumps respectively!
Our Man McQueen fettling his Triumph TR6 prior to taking part in the 1964 International Six Day Trials ISDT. A true test of rider and his machine.
Rider 278 working on his TR6
Bruce Dern appearing roguish with his lightly customized Triumph; cowhorn bars, peanut tank and sissy bar.
The fifties and sixties saw a refreshing style in the graphic arts as well as product design. Eames’, Saarinen, Nelson et al. Here is a threesome of Meriden product promotion in slick and swift handed period illustration.
The first is a pair of Trophy towed by a Ford Cortina (I recall the tail-light of the Mk 1 my Pa had in the mid 70’s)
The truly beautiful Honor Blackman, atop a gorgeous Norton, looking at home for sure. Indeed she is the original action girl with such characters as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger, opposite the one true Bond, Sean Connery, as well as being the first Avenger opposite Steed: Cathy Gale.
Cathy goes undercover in a biker gang in the episode “Build a Better Mousetrap”; donning her usual black leather suit astride a Royal Enfield. Steed, with bowler and ‘brolly goes pillion.
The model range available to the riding masses in the U.S. 50 years ago, short sleeves seem the fashion of choice for the SoCal or FL cruiser bruisers of the day. The swingin; line-up included: T100 Tiger, TR5, T110, TR6, 5TA Speed Twin and the Jewel in the Crown: T120 Bonneville.
A couple of really sharp race roundel signs. One displaying unstoppable #9 Gary Nixon ‘flying’ on a dirt oval steed; the other is Eddie Mulder #12 (The Squirrel).
A neat thin strip vertical ad highlighting the sublime Bonneville as the sporty choice of business executives. Looming office buildings flank the parked ride between lesser ‘motorcars’. It’s rival of the time was of course the E Type Jag; serious competition indeed!
How better to tootle around the studios of Hollywood in the sixties than on a white Bonnie; here’s Dean Martin with pillion, actress Stella Stevens, enjoying the British Bike in the California sun… the movie “The Silencers” starred Martin as secret agent Matt Helm in his first outing.
Fairing, ace bars, race seat, long pipes….. she must go fast! About 50 of these were made; so finding an original is rarer than hens teeth.
A strong message with this 60’s advert: implying a Triumph gives you a sense of power! The gal is aloof aboard the bike with, what look like, her business, architect and sportman contemporary bretheren. Read into it what you will!
Here are the older Meriden Triumphs at the street show, each with their owners mark on them, each with mileage and aged patina giving an certain ‘life’ to them.
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