Triumphrat

motiztab

Triumph Thunderbird 3. Is this a real bike? The one I saw had a T160 engine kick start only T160 tank and period switch gear from the late 70's. I understood that they were Tridents ether T150 or T160.

KADUTZ

Me thinks someone is pulling your index finger 8-)

GeoffE

Hi,

The second generation triple, with an electric start, was intended to be called the Thunderbird III.

The story goes that Triumph's American staff warned that they feared that Ford, who had originally gained the okay from Triumph to use the Thunderbird name also, may take legal action. So a few prototypes and possibly a couple of production bikes were badge such, but then were renamed the T160 Trident we all know.

Triumph did have a complete run of Thunderbird III side panel badges made, which were sold off when Meriden closed, and these still appear for sale on our UK Ebay.

Interesting history, especially since we now have the Hinkley Thunderbird since 1995, when I assume Ford were still using the name?

I can recommend the book "Triumph and BSA Triples" by Mick Duckworth (ISBN 1861260180).

Ciao,
Geoff

KADUTZ

amazing what one can learn out here
page 88 of my copy of the book

GeoffE

A couple of links that may be of onterest:-

T180 Thunderbird III?

Ebay T180 Thunderbird III Panel Badges

Interesting that both sites, behind the links, refer to the model as T180. A 180' crank was tried for comparison purposes (ala early Laverda Jota/3c).

Ciao,
Geoff

GrandPaulZ

The "T180" was Les Harris' rendition of the latest Tridents with a big bore ket, better brakes and some other refinements, while he was still making Bonnies under license after the Triumph factory closed.

The Thunderbird 3 is the modern Hinkley 900cc triple (discontinued), which was also available in a "Sport" model with dual discs up front.

__________________
GrandPaulZ
Author of "Old Bikes"
Born Again Bikes
My Photos

DAGAD

Right, lets put this to bed NOW, once and for all :evil:
There is a Thunderbird III AND there are also TWO T180s'. Both are factory built AT MERIDEN.
Firstly the ONE AND ONLY Thunderbird III is a pre-production T160. It was registered on 16th October 1973 with index mark XWK 205M. The engine / frame number is T160 001 Thunderbird 3. It was registered by BSA Triumph, Meriden works, Allesley Coventry. The 2nd owner is recorded as Norton Triumph International, Kitts Green and the 3rd owner is NVT motorcycles, Shenstone, Staffs.
Now you may be asking, how do I know this? For the Brits, I am reading it from the log book and I think it's called a 'pink slip' in America. It IS painted black and yellow and the difference between it and the T160 is it has CHAIN driven camshafts and it has a T150V gas tank.
Now onto the T180, This was an over bored T160. They are actually 830cc and used std 650 pistons with a revised skirt to clear the crankshaft.
I know where the Thunderbird III is, only 12 miles from where I am sitting now. I know of 2 T180s but their where abouts has escaped me.
The story about the side panel stickers (decals) is true, however Ford and Hinckley agreed some years ago that Ford would not make a motor cycle and Hinckley Triumph agreed not to make a car.............. problem solved :wink:
Roy.

tridentt150v

Dead right DAGAD!!!

The reasons for not going ahead with the T180/TIII was time, money, and an inability to stop the head gasket from failing [ie more R&D needed+no money+time=not put into production]. Like the Bandit etc Meridan just couldn't do it.

__________________
tridentt150v,
Great Southern Land.
(Where women blow and men chunder).

GrandPaulZ

Didn't Les Harris (or was it Williams) call his hopped-up T160s "T180s" ??

That's what I read somewhere. (That's what I get for reading!)

__________________
GrandPaulZ
Author of "Old Bikes"
Born Again Bikes
My Photos

KADUTZ

Roy
you never cease to amaze me (and I hope others)