A Cub speeds by and the bystanders twirl in amazement at the zippy little motor toting its rider along what looks like a typical street in a French town. An ornate streetlight, pollarded trees and high fashion ladies give it away.
Pooch looks on curiously.
The Union Flag can adorn anything from napkins to boxer shorts. But cover a Triumph petrol tank in one and the the British symbol feels right at home. The George Cross, Scottish Saltire and the Cross of St Patrick layer to create the most recognizable flag in the world.
After appearing on the cover of the Beach Boys 1963 album “Little Deuce Coupe” Clarence “Chili” Catallo’s glorious ’32 Ford coupe hot rod, nicknamed the “Silver Sapphire”…became the very definition of sixties Hot Rod.
Purchased in Motor City Detroit when he was 15 he completed its muscular yet spare blue and chrome vision whilst working at the great George Barris’ LA suburbs kustom ‘shop in California. After appearing on the cover of HotRod ‘zine the rest is music history.
“Just a little deuce coupe with a flat head mill
But she’ll walk a Thunderbird like it’s standin’ still
She’s ported and relieved and she’s stroked and bored.
She’ll do a hundred and forty with the top end floored
She’s my little deuce coupe
You don’t know what I got..” Brian Wilson
CAD: allowing the machine to be built in vector space within a drafting program so the assembly of components can be put together and tested before a lathe is spun, mold is formed and bolt netted.
This is the powerplant to Triumph supersport Daytona. A compact behemoth of horsepower. To think its capacity is only a couple of dozen cc’s more than my forty year old Bonnie.
Color coding parts helps differentiate the workings too.
When exceeding 100 mph you want to ensure you’re in good balance. What better way than to check weight on these ‘clocks’ repurposed from a set of Triumph speedo and tachometer.
Used by dealers in days past to promote upcoming shop events. Triumph-Day to mark on your calendar.
“Yesterday I was expecting Tomorrow, but all I got was Today”.
Well, I would hope today was a T-Day!
Espied jaunting around the highways and byways of Mediterranean climes is what the motopress believe to be Triumphs next monster-killer. Basically the Thruxton on steroids and given a Gold’s Gym membership. The 900cc engine pumped up to an assumed 1200, 180 shod rear wheel, Popeye like front forks, forward leaned stance.
Big front stoppers, proud mufflers, wire-spoked wheels. Apparently it may come out in the 2016 model line up. Possible name is Street Tracker. I’d rather see it called the Speed Twin. Better start saving my pennies!
They should go bold too and offer it in both black and the historical Amaranth Red…
At Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale CA there is a museum atop its central hill. Surrounded by mortuary and gardens of remembrance it seems a peculiar location for a motorcycle show. But a great small display of about a dozen vintage motorcycles and artwork was a perfect destination on one of our days around Los Angeles. The flame orange Flying Merkel was one such noted bike.
This gentlemanly Grey ‘teen Harley Davidson in immaculate condition was illuminated like a fine sculpture. Elsewhere another beautiful HD sat bejeweled under some fine moto-art.
The sun shone through a magnificent display of stained glass upon a broadly fair’d Gilera. Red and blue for speed.
Tank art also highlighted the historical names of Indian.
As well as the custom line work in glistening paint of the sixties bike scene: tangerine dream indeed.
One of my favorites was an unassuming Guzzi with very special markings. von Dutch pinstriping with aged patina and an etched dragon curling around the ‘bacon-slicer’ flywheel.
Better’n any gallery!
A fashion shoot where cool meets beauty atop a Triumph. Jean Shrimpton the original supermodel celebrates her 72nd birthday today. Here is an image from a February ’65 Harpers Bazaar with Steve.
Photography by Richard Avedon. “Set your Nikon to 1/125th and f1.4 and smile baby, smile!
Wish I had this when starting my Bonnie restoration four years ago. Its a nicely completed Oil in Frame Street Tracker. Spare details and clean lines. Single carb too for cease of tuning.
A mastermind of engine technology. Mr Turner stands with the marvel of the vertical twin used for nigh- on fifty years. Here’s the birth of a child of the British motorcycle industry: its first iteration a 500cc Speed Twin.
Looks good now; it must have looked outstanding back then. The modern day Bonneville T100 takes a serious visual note from this very engine.
A 17″ tall sewn biker from the deft hands of Joyce Patterson. A commissioned piece for a Californian rider sits astride a 1:6 scale miniature Triumph. The tires could have been crochet, the tank embroidered,seat buttoned velvet. However the sized leathers are a perfect addition.
When the moto gets all ‘hacky-dorty’ the you need a can if this! Scrub off the old road grime and polish ‘er up. The bike always look refreshed with a bit if elbow grease and a stack of rags. Best done on a sunny day with a beer to whet your whistle.
On this day, July 3rd, in 1938 the Number 4468 Mallard set the speed record for a steam locomotive. Going like the clappers with a full head of steam reaching 125.88 mph (202.58 km/h). The record was achieved on 3 July 1938 on the slight downward grade of Stoke Bank south of Grantham on the East Coast Main Line; the highest speed being recorded at milepost 90¼, between Little Bytham and Essendine.
The blue streamlined bodywork harks the zenith of the steam age. Like Malcolm Campbell’s Bluebird cars and boats the sapphire tone yells speed. The black eyebrow swoosh arched lines over the 4-6-2 wheel arrangement is pure form. These wheel skirts were designed by railway engineer Oliver Bulleid with an obvious aerofoil profile – making an engineering need an aesthetic boon.
For the trainspotters out there: this ‘Streak’ is London & North Eastern Railway LNER Class A4 Pacific Steam Locomotive built in Doncaster Yorkshire in 1938. One of 35 engines built, designed by Sir Herbert Nigel Greeley its job was to get passengers from London, through York and Newcastle and on up to Edinburgh.
Before computers drove the shape of the aerodynamic form it was up to the car designer to devise of the curved lines of bodywork to wrap the chassis, engine and seating compartment.
Sculpture on wheels each with a face and body as recognizable as any old family member.
Friends that always continue the conversation where you left off…
Art becomes Art. Looking at, and analyzing, the outline of these beauties, seeing how the curve flows.
There are details that become the marques signature: BMW’s central grill for example. The 2002’s shows this off well.
An E Type’s rear end complements the long engine-full front so well. Perfection!
Even a German next to an Briton looks sumptuous.
Then there’s the cockpit… That another story*
*I didn’t get any images at this car show of walnut dash and leather seat or wood steering wheel and Smiths clocks… Next time!
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