As we described in our previous posting, Triumph Grand Prix was born as the first in the line of factory limited production race bikes that extended through the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s until the original Triumph factory closed its doors. This is why the Triumph GP, with its limited production, is the most desirable and collectable machine for serious Triumph collectors.
Tom Ruttan's recently restored Grand Prix Replica will be auctioned at the Midamerica Auction in Las Vegas, January 10-12, 2013.
The Midamerica listing can be seen at: http://www.midamericaauctions.com/motorcycle/triumph/triumph-grand-prix-racer-replica/
Tom Ruttan finished this restoration of a 1949 Triumph Grand Prix Replica in August, 2012. It is located in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Tom is the owner of Cascade Classic Cycles (est. 1990) and has been collecting and restoring vintage motorcycles for over 40 years. This GP Replica is the crowning achievement of Tom’s many years as a motorcycle restorer.
Any motorcycle museum would welcome this restoration due to its rarity and high quality workmanship, but Tom is offering it for sale here on our website so that anyone having the desire and means to procure this wonderful machine can do so.
Tom’s 1949 GP Replica has a very interesting history …
Tom obtained this motorcycle from Dale Baston of Vancouver, Canada as a running, track ready bike. Dale is an avid collector of both vintage motorcycles and cars and raced this bike at the famed Westwood Race Track in the Vancouver area before it was closed down in the mid-1990’s.
Here is what the motorcycle looked like when Tom obtained it …
Dale had purchased this machine in 1987 from John Gilham of England, who had originally built it into a GP Replica in the early 1980’s. John started with a Tiger 100 frame and gearbox, a sprung hub rear
wheel, a genuine GP front hub and because he was able to find the correct engine and chassis parts, he was able to turn the project into a respectable GP replica. This bike was documented in an article in the summer 1988 edition of “Classic Racer” magazine (p. 55) that chronicled the story of John building this replica and finding a genuine GP.
Tom was thrilled to find this replica and it started him on a journey of Triumph GP education and discovery. Tom describes his excitement about the GP this way … “My objective was that, even though it is a replica, I wanted to find as many correct and original parts as possible to turn this machine into an accurate example of the Grand Prix model and preserve the history of these rare Triumph race bikes.”
As a result of Tom’s dedication to correctness and attention to detail, this bike has been completely restored from the ground up to make it one of the finest Grand Prix replicas available.
Grand Prix Features and Build Details
8” GP front hub with 20” alloy rim and Avon UK Speedmaster race compound tire
Rear sprung hub with Dunlop alloy rim and Avon UK Grand Prix racing rear tire
BTH TT Magneto
Pre-war RC83 tachometer w/ correct GP mounting plate
Pre-1950 transmission with close ratio gear set.
Dunlop rubber racing seat
“GP-ized” motor with:
Head machine to GP specs with Black Diamond valves
Internal engine parts polished, including crankshaft, rods and rocker arms
Alloy valve lifter guides
Cylinder bore: +0.010” over standard
Rod bearing size: standard size
Correct GP tachometer drive, including engine case details
Custom made replica gas tank using a genuine GP tank as a model
Dual carburetor intake manifold
Dual Amal 289 carburetors with 1” bore w/ new slides, pilot needles & jets, idles screws & gaskets
GP remote float
Armored gas and oil lines
Red fuel line from remote float to the carburetors; used only on GP’s and T100C Race Kit
GP clutch basket (lightened for speed) w/ new clutch drive & driven plates
Painted alloy blade style front and rear fenders
Correct front and rear fender brackets for GP only including heavy fork brace and one
piece, dual attach point fork clamps
Cartridge-type engine oil filter
Front engine plates with GP only features (access hole for tach drive lube)
Paintwork done by Dave Wedlake and pin striping done by Mitch Kim, both of Portland Oregon
This motorcycle has a clear Oregon title.
The sales price is $32,500. If you are interested, please contact Tom Ruttan
@ (503)621-8943 or [email protected].
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