1938 Triumph Tiger 80
‘ Gentleman ’ s Motor Bicycle ’ which doesn ’ t sound like the machine one would choose to contest the Senior TT , but it did and in the hands of Tommy de la Hay won the Senior in 1920 . The Sunbeam won four Isle of Man TTs , the last with Alec Bennett in 1929 riding a Model 90 . The Model 90 featured in this collection has a long and distinguished record in New Zealand motorcycle sport .
TRIUMPH TIGER The Triumph Tiger was one of the most important motorcycles designed by Triumph . Struggling to survive , like so many companies , after six years of the Great Depression , it was the legendary Edward Turner who brought the company back to life . He is said to have worked between 18 and 19 hours a day in a small design office , and by 1936 had turned the Triumph range , especially the Tiger 70 , 80 , and 90 into a lithe and handsome collection . If proof is needed of the lasting value of these machines , I have a 1937 advert for a Tiger 80 quoting the retail price of 60 British pounds , which is around NZ $ 120 . The asking price at the auction was NZ $ 23,000 to NZ $ 28,000 .
KIWI RIDER 83