Triumphrat

05-30-2007

There I was, just browsing on eBay, when I saw what I thought to be one of my dream bikes... a 1967 5TA in need of assembly. 1967 because that was when I was born and 5TA because I heard one years ago and fell in love with the sound (and they are cheaper than Bonnies).

Anyhoo... used the Buy It Now button on Saturday and then travelled the 360 mile round trip to collect it on Sunday.

It is now sat in the dining room driving me crazy! The previous owner did say that it had an engine change sometime in its life but the more I dig, the more confused I get. The engine number is 5TA H24006 which I have established to be a 1961 5TA unit. The frame number, however, is 3TA H45565 which is quite obviously a 1966 3TA! The original bike was then registered in June 1967.

I suppose, what I need to find out is: did the 3TA and the 5TA share all chassis components and was there a change in the bodywork/rolling chassis between 1966 and 1967?

Also, does anyone know of any autojumbles coming up in the Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire or London area?

Any help would be most welcome!

quagmire · 05-30-2007

Sounds like a bit of false advertising. Are you sure you still want it?

DAGAD · 05-31-2007

I agree with Quag................. do you STILL want it? After all it's a 3TA with a 5TA engine??? It should have been cheap??
Roy.

05-31-2007

I do still want to keep it... at least now I don't have to restore it to original and I can add my own touch!

GrandPaulZ · 05-31-2007

FINALLY!!!!

A non-purist MOTORCYCLE LOVER!

By all means, get TWO parts books. one for the engine, one for the chassis.

Then, consider a refurbishing to either a fixed point as a certain style (bobber, military replica, cafe racer, standard, dual-purpose, etc), or acquire various different seats, exhaust systems and such that you can swap parts over a weekend and have a "different bike" to ride whenever the urge hits you.

I am planning on doing exactly that with 2 or 3 project bikes i have that are mismatched. Since they can never be made original, and any attempt to get them to appear as close to a certain year as possible will only result in the scorn of the purists, I figure I don't need the frustration and I'm going to have some FUN with them.

GOOD FOR YOU in not blowing it out of proportion, and while I would have words with the seller, I must assume the price was quite reasonable or you would be using the buyer protection / fraud features and services of e-bay (that's what they are there for).

Shame on the seller, anyway, and he should receive a negative feedback from you with clear indication that he defrauded you and misrepresented his auction item.

05-31-2007

Quote:

On 2007-05-31 10:26, GrandPaulZ wrote:
FINALLY!!!!

A non-purist MOTORCYCLE LOVER!

Definately not a purist... the BSA M21 that I have has a Triumph TRW pertol tank, a Norton exhaust, a Citroen 2CV headlight, a Vincent speedo and a BSA A10 front end and I love it. In fact, everyone that sees it loves it!

Thanks for your support, GrandPaulZ. By the way... looking at the list of bikes you have... your greedy! :-D

DAGAD · 05-31-2007

Hey Bantam, I've had an email from a guy in South Africa asking for Triumph dealers in / around Ipswich. He's coming over and trying to get parts for his T100 (Meriden) bike. Any ideas?
At least it's the RIGHT WAY round, too many of these 'not matching' engine / frame have the smaller 3TA engine. The 5TA is a better motor.
Roy.

05-31-2007

There is a Hinkley Triumph dealer in Ipswich called Lings but its not really worth taking even a modern Triumph there! Most 'new' Triumph owners take them to other dealers in other counties or other non-Triumph dealers in Ipswich.

As for Meriden Triumphs, the only one I know of around here is in Felixtowe (about 15 miles away) called T8 Triumph Spares. They are appointment only for visiting but you can contact them at their web site - http://www.t8ts.co.uk - I cannot comment on their service or anything as I have not used them yet, the 5TA being my first classic Trumpet (always been a BSA man but don't tell anyone round here!) I'm sure there are others and I will find them in time.

DAGAD · 06-01-2007

Thanks mate

Roy.