Discovered in its original shipping crate, a 1957 Triumph TRW sold at Pebble Beach last month for $34,500. HVA’s Canada correspondent, Nigel Matthews, reports on this amazing find and provides an interesting quandary in our Facebook question of the month.
The Triumph motorcycle company began designing its 500cc TRW model in 1943, but by the time the bike went into production World War II was over and the British military had a surplus of motorcycles used by dispatch riders.
The production run of the TRW began in 1950 and continued until 1964, producing some 15,939 examples. A number of those were used by the military in countries around the world, including Canada, Germany, Holland, Pakistan and South Africa.
Automobile barn finds have been plentiful of late, but motorcycles aren't typically in that mix.
So I was pretty excited to come across this incredible find at the Mid-America Motorcycle auction in Monterey last month. The pictured 1957 Triumph TRW came out of Canadian Military storage approximately 40 years ago, and has never been out of the original factory shipping crate. This twin-cylinder Triumph has chrome wheel rims and gold pinstriping accenting the green paintwork. It is supplied with the complete tool kit and other accessories, including the hardbound owner's manual and sold for $34,500.
No word on what the Triumph’s new owner plans to do with this amazing find. But with a mere 15 test miles added by the factory, if the new owner would assemble and ride it, every mile added to the odometer would certainly devalue it. A tough decision, to be sure.
What would you do? The HVA would like to know. To answer, please head over to the HVA’s Facebook page and take a moment to answer our online question of the month.