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How many 1974 T120 were built?

71K views 208 replies 52 participants last post by  trophy956 
#1 ·
Hello, I'm new to the forum. I have a 1974 T120 650 and I'm looking for a manual. Also does anyone know how many 650s were built in 74.
I heard that not too many were built because of the factory shut down by employees...
 
#5 ·
So, there is Road Racers. I've got one and Caulky has one. So only 984 to find!

What page are those figure on, because, I thought there was some crossover of numbers between the 650/725/750's and only a look at the factory records would sort out the actual numbers.
Mark
 
#8 ·
Mine is KJ58658.
There are no specific spares or workshop manuals for this model.
I have `72 650 and `73, `74 750 spares books.
Between them they usually cover my bike, but there`s always exceptions :rolleyes:
I also have the last (`72?) 650 and `74 750 workshop manuals.
I look at what is fitted and go from there.

The way I look at is...these are the last `real` bonnies :D
This one was for sale at Bonhams, supposedly how they should look.
 
#208 ·
Mine is KJ58658.
There are no specific spares or workshop manuals for this model.
I have `72 650 and `73, `74 750 spares books.
Between them they usually cover my bike, but there`s always exceptions :rolleyes:
I also have the last (`72?) 650 and `74 750 workshop manuals.
I look at what is fitted and go from there.

The way I look at is...these are the last real bonnies :D
This one was for sale at Bonhams, supposedly how they should look.
I would like to get my hands on one of these again, as I had one just like it in 1975 new but unfortunately had to sell it, I have been looking for years for the exact bike.
I have pictures of it, but none of registration plate.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Actually, I had one 30 years ago. The only color scheme for the 74 was the purple/white tank... The tank on both of mine are the regular tanks with the white wings going up from the emblem and not the pushed in one with the pads as shown in the picture, that tank is a 72 or older. I heard a factory picture does not exist. So that picture Caulky is showing might not be accurate unless the factory used both tanks at the time... Mine is KJ58613
 
#14 · (Edited)
I've got a 1974 T120V (see avatar) so thats four !
Colours were purple and white on both UK and Export tanks. I have a 1974 brochure which features the Purple T120 and the Cherokee Red T140.
Steve Wilsons Bonneville book says only 300 were released in 74 but I think the 987 figure is nearer the mark because they do seem to pop up on the net regularly , specially when you consider 'wastage' over the past 38 years.
Andover Norton sell reproduction 1974 T120V owners handbooks ( which incidentally for some reason features inside a picture of the UK spec. 1973 T140 in vermillion and gold ! )
So from what I can glean , the Meriden workforce came back from their August summer break in Sept 1973 made around 2000 '1974 season' T120/T140' s then in October went on strike and blockaded everything in .
In September? 1974 NVT paid them £3 a bike to release these bikes and they were sold by NVT . When the blockade finished in 1975 a few more 74 season bikes were released ,presumably bikes that just required a little work to complete.
Question - would any of the '1974 season' bikes have been sold in Sept 1973 or were they always kept in stock till the next year.
 
#23 ·
January 2012 issue of Classic Bike had an article by Steve Wilson on these 1974/5 T120s, specifically those that were locked in during the workers' sit-in and released periodically to owners, NVT, during negotiations with Tony Benn, the government industry minister. It commented upon their state given many were on the prodcution line still and othere were outside awaiting dispatch when the factory gates were locked. In 1995, I saw an original low miles one kept at one-time Triumph dealers, Streamline Motorcycles of East Dulwich, SE London as a memento. The paintwork and chrome were pitted with rust spots, the former crudely touched up.
 
#33 ·
Hi ive had mine since 1978 bought from the original owner ,nelson bonnie book list the 1974 T120v being built from existing spares by the factory workers vin from JJ58080 to KJ59067
a 2nd build was up to 60070
mine KJ58820
in the bonneville america book the is a photo of theses bikes assembled and just sitting in the factory
charlie
 
#36 · (Edited)
The square tanks were for Europe only I believe. Here in UK the square tank was standard from 1971 to around 1980 and the 'Export' tank was an option.
They hold a lot more fuel, 4.2 gallons imperial!
I'm guessing at this time many European riders ( certainly in the UK) used their bike as their main daily transport whereas in USA it was mainly leisure use.
I think the square tanks look good in the standard colour schemes with the 'comma' shaped white centre panel .

76 UK brochure with tank option in small inset picture-
http://www.motobrit.com/motc2/mphp/.../tri/tri76bro.jpg&title=1976 Triumph Brochure
 
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