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It’s 46 years old and has never been ridden – a limited-edition 1977 Triumph Bonneville Silver Jubilee model. The gas tank has never been filled with petrol and its odometer reads only 1.3 miles. No doubt that’s because the motorcycle has been rolled around over the years.
Its whereabouts and the identity of its owner shall remain a secret as I came upon it unexpectedly this week when out doing a car story. Suffice to say, the British-made Bonneville is in Connecticut and in a safe and secure place. It’s displayed in a bar room in a dry basement of the owner’s home, along with a vintage Norton Commando.
The Silver Jubilee edition was released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II being crowned in England. What began as a stock 744cc, T140 Bonneville got a blue over silver paint job with red pin striping, special badging and chrome engine covers.
A total of 1,000 were produced for the U.K., another 1,000 for the United States and an additional 400 for sale elsewhere. The tank differed between the U.K. and U.S. versions. The U.K.-spec bikes had a 4.5-gallon square tank, while the export version had a teardrop tank. The seat on the Silver Jubilee model was dark blue with red piping.
The Silver Jubilee sold new in England for £1,149, compared to £1,012 for a stock Bonneville. Many were purchased by collectors as an investment. These days it’s not uncommon to see them listed for sale from anywhere from £14,750 to as much as £18,500, which is nearly $22,500.
The Silver Jubilee that RIDE-CT came upon looks new with few signs of age, although the opening to the gas tank shows a bit of oxidation. It also still has its original tires.
So taken was RIDE-CT by the Bonneville (having only seen worn, faded versions out on the road), no questions got asked regarding the Norton that’s also displayed in the owner’s basement. Maybe next time.
I’ve seen these new on the showroom floor, at the time I was riding a 73 bonnie orange and gold was tempted to buy but would have ridin it. This was at Randy’s cycle in Massachusetts, I wonder if it’s the same bike?
It’s a sin not to ride it
Today I saw a brand new 1977 Silver Jubilee with 0 miles, never had gasoline in the tank. It was in Massachusetts.
Ride it!
I agree with Scott. Bikes were built to be ridden.
Norton,!Norton !,Norton! All together now. Norton! Norton! Norton.
I have an English version of this triumph T140 fully restored for sale. Mileage is 12,500 miles. The bike is in Australia, can someone give me an idea of what price if I sold it.
Why do you never see the old Triumph tridents I had a 1974 which you know is a 3 cylinder but you really never see them like in the movies you’ll see the Bonnies but you never see the tridents. My trident was incredible I had 11 to 1 high Dome Pistons, cut back valves shaved head, ammel carburetors and a kurker header on it. it was an animal the last time I was riding it I was doing 135 ÷ mph down the New York State Thruway with alot more to go .that thing would go from 0 to 100 in seconds and it sounded wonderful you could hear it coming a mile away and also if you know anything about the old tridents they actually lean that engine a little bit forward to put more positive weight on that front wheel for better handling , with Pirelli tires on it you could lean that bike so low you could just about kiss the road. which I did, unfortunately I scraped the lower casing off one of the sides doing that around a turn up this snakey Mountain Road, all the oil came out of it. This bike only had a red Idiot light for the oil ..,Unfortunately unaware what was happening all the oil leaked out of it it just came to a screeching halt which almost threw me off the bike it seized up instantly and then and only then did the red light oil indicator lit up too little too late it was over. That was a beautifully dangerous motorcycle. The moral of this story is what’s your about the tridents! You always see the bonnevilles in the movie but never the tridents and I couldn’t understand why those three cylinders were Magic and had an original sound that no other bike had when you heard it you knew what it was. Plus I’m not fond of bonnevilles anyway they’re only 650 CC and they’re like slow they sound lousy they’re small I have no power definitely not my bike of choice but if you ever get a chance to get on an old trident it will definitely blow your mind.
I believe being a SILVER JUBILEE, it was to commemorate the Queen Mothers 75th. Birthday (hence the designation silver). I had one that was inherited from my brother. He purchased it new in 1977 from Sportland in Urbana, Illinois. Fun bike to ride. Definitely had an English attitude. Hard to wipe the smile off of my face after a day on it.
Don’t know which is Worse T140 OR T120
BOTH CRAP. Because of the unions which destroyed the manufacturing companies.
There’s a photo of the Norton at the bottom of the story.
PLEASE show us the Norton!!!
I understand the value of an unridden collectable but I would have to ride these magnificent machines at least a few times a year to air them out and really enjoy them.