HISTORIC DISCOVERY OF 1901 PROTOTYPE TRIUMPH

An amazing historic discovery, found and restored by leading vintage Triumph collector Dick Shepherd. The 1901 Prototype rewrites the history books, adding a whole new chapter prior to Triumph’s official sales starting in 1902. 

Long rumoured to exist and referenced within advertising and reviews that appeared in 1901. This first Triumph prototype was developed from a standard Triumph bicycle. With an engine provided by Belgian manufacturer Minerva, in order to generate interest and gauge the public’s demand for a Triumph motorcycle.

“Having been approached by a friend of a collector, who had sadly recently passed away, to evaluate an old Triumph I was incredibly excited to discover that the bike. They had featured unique details that were not present on the first production Triumphs. Along with the bike, the collector had also received a letter from Triumph, dated in 1937. That outlined the bike’s unique origins and provided key details.”

Dick Shepherd said

“With an engine number that is consistent with references in Minerva’s engine records of a 1901 first Triumph engagement the historic significance of this motorcycle became incredibly clear.”

Dick Shepherd said

“As a lifelong passionate fan of the history and achievements of this incredible British brand, to have discovered this amazing survivor and restored it to the glorious condition it would have been in when it first went on display in 1901, has given me an immense amount of satisfaction.”

Dick Shepherd said

The historic discovery Prototype was first unveiled at the UK’s Motorcycle Live show the 1901.

The Prototype will feature in dedicated event at Triumph’s Factory Visitor Experience on the 14th December. The machine will be ridden in public for the very first time in over 100 years.  

This incredible, historic motorcycle discovery of triumph will then be on display. Alongside the millionth Hinckley Triumph, in a new, specially created 120-year anniversary display, hosted within Triumph’s Factory Visitor Experience.

The Triumph Factory Visitor Experience is free to visit and is located at Triumph’s HQ in Hinckley, England. It is open daily Wednesday through Sunday, from 10am – 4.30pm. 

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ABOUT TRIUMPH

• First established in 1902, Triumph Motorcycles celebrated 118 years of motorcycle manufacture in 2020. For more than three decades, Triumph Motorcycles has been based in Hinckley, Leicestershire. It has produced iconic bikes that perfectly blend authentic design, character, charisma and performance.
• Triumph is the largest British motorcycle manufacturer and has around 650 dealers across the world. Building around 60,000 bikes per year.
• This focus, innovation and engineering passion has today created a broad range of bikes suited to all motorcycle riders.
• Including:
  • • the stunning new Trident 660,
    • the epic new Tiger 900,
    • the world leading Rocket R and GT,
    • new higher performance Street Triple 765RS,
    • iconic Scrambler 1200,
    • Speed Triple,
    • transcontinental Tiger 1200,
    • iconic Triumph Bonneville family including the sporty Speed Twin,
    • Bonneville Bobber,
    • legendary Thruxton RS,
    • accessible Street Twin,
    • Street Scrambler and iconic Bonneville T120 and T100,
    • plus an exciting and accessible A2 range of Triumph motorcycles.

• Triumph currently employs around 1,800 personnel worldwide and has subsidiary operations in the UK, North America, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, Sweden (Scandinavia), Benelux, Brazil, India, China and Thailand as well as a network of independent distributors. Triumph has manufacturing facilities in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and Thailand plus CKD facilities in Brazil and India.
• The Triumph Bonneville, famously named to celebrate Triumph’s 1956 land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA. It was the original British superbike and a race-winner straight out of the crate, chosen by famous motorcyclists of the past for its legendary handling, style, and character. It’s that handling, character and style, married to modern rider-focused technology that makes the new Bonneville family the authentic modern classic choice today.
• Triumph has a glorious racing history, competing in and winning races in almost every class and field of motorcycle sporting achievement. From winning the second ever Isle of Man TT in 1908, through to 1960s road and track domination in Europe and America, right up to contemporary racing achievements with the 675cc Triumph triple powered 2014 Daytona 200 win, the 2014 Isle of Man Supersports TT win, the 2014 and 2015 British Supersports titles and World SuperSport racing, and again in 2019, with another victory at the Isle of Man Supersports TT, piloted by Peter Hickman.
• Triumph’s racing legend continues as the exclusive engine supplier to the FIM Moto2™ World Championship since the start of the 2019 season. Triumph Motorcycles provides all of the teams with race-tuned 765cc triples, each of which is based on the class-leading Street Triple RS powerplant. Redefining the class and breaking record after record in the inaugural year, including the first ever +300km/h Moto2™ top speed, the 2020 season got even faster with another 11 all time lap records and seven different winners from 15 races.
• Triumph’s racing activities are further bolstered by a return to the British Superbike paddock in 2021 with a factory-supported race team in the British Supersport Championship.
• In 2021 Triumph have announced their forthcoming entry into the Motocross and Enduro worlds as well as a new factory racing effort, with a commitment to top tier championship racing in both Motocross and Enduro series.

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