In the 1950s and 1960s, Triumph’s 650 twins were barred from AMA Class C racing, which limited overhead valve engines to 500cc. The regulations kept the big twins off the dirt ovals. There was another form of dirt competition known as TT racing – the name was derived from the British Tourist Trophy races. American TTs were held on dirt courses, but they had to have a motocross-like jump. Some courses were simple ovals with a jump, while others had left and right turns like a road course. In this form of racing, the 650 Triumphs were allowed. And they dominated.
The machine originally conceived for the purpose was the 1963 Bonneville, stripped down and tuned by west coast distributor Bill Johnson of Johnson Motors, the TT was a high performance, factory race bike, designed to fill the niche market of off-road racing.
Beginning with and improving upon their street legal Bonneville, the Triumph factory racer came with higher compression pistons, hotter camshafts and a high output ignition system, to produce 54hp at 6,500 rpm. Closer ratio gears were installed in the 4-speed gearbox, chain drive sprocket ratios were altered, and larger diameter exhaust pipes were tucked under the frame, without mufflers. Aluminum, or more durable stainless steel fenders replaced the street items, together with the 2 ½ gallon slim gas tank. Lights, fork lock and speedometer were deleted and only a tachometer was fitted. The forks received special springs and internal valving. These stripped-down bikes weighed 350 pounds, some 30 pounds lighter than the stock configuration.
The 1965 Triumph T120C TT Special on offer here comes from a Southwest collector extraordinaire. In superb condition throughout, the bike was subject to a ground up restoration before being placed on static display in the private collection. Running well, the bike is ready for the next budding desert racer.
Frame no. T120C DU15557
Engine no. T120C DU15557
Location: Ventura, California
