Introduced in 1949 the new Triumph Thunderbird or 6T engine was essentially a bored out 500cc Speed Twin enlarged to 650cc for the US market. Early models carried this ‘hard tail’ sprung hub rear end rather than the later traditional swinging arm with twin telescopic dampers. The sprung hub was phased out in 1954. Marketed specifically in the USA the 6T was immortalised by Marlon Brando in the 1953 movie ‘The Wild One’ in which he rode a 1950 Thunderbird. Imported from the USA this matching number 6T has been the subject of a home restoration. This included a complete re paint of the frame and bodywork and rebuild of the engine. Although completed a while ago the bike has just been UK registered and comes with a recent MoT and V5C logbook. The bike remains in very fine order and runs beautifully although it will require running in. Early examples such as this are among the rarest of the pre unit Triumphs and continue to sought by collectors
