Winning bid
£5,000

1981 Triumph Bonneville T140 Royal Wedding Limited Edition

Vendor supplied images

Highlights

  • One of just 250 examples ever made
  • Supremely original down to the finest details
  • Restored to a high standard by a previous keeper

The Appeal

Triumph, a firm fiercely proud of its British heritage,  has marked several momentous occasions with a special edition motorcycle. In 1977, Meriden launched the ‘Silver Jubilee’, marking 25 year of the late Queen’s succession to the throne. 

What few besides the most clued-up of Triumph aficionados know is that four years later, another (and much rarer) special Bonnie was offered to commemorate the wedding of then Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. Dubbed the ‘Royal Wedding Limited Edition’, just 250 examples were ever made: 125 for the UK market and a further 125 for the US.
Here we have one of the US-spec bikes - although for whatever reason, it never actually left the UK. The vendor is the fourth registered keeper of this rare and fascinating machine and it has been in their care for the last seven years. They acquired the bike from a dealer in the north of Scotland who was selling off their private collection before they retired. It was restored by a former keeper to a high standard, maintaining its originality and making this one of the smartest surviving examples you’re ever likely to find.

The History and Paperwork

  • Matching numbers
  • No.046/125 US-spec Royal Wedding Limited Editions
  • The vendor informs us that they are the fourth registered keeper
  • The speedometer unit has been changed at some point and the vendor was informed the odometer had previously recorded around 12,000 miles
  • The current odometer reads 578 miles
  • The original build plate is present although as this was cosmetically damaged when the frame was prepared for powder coating, there is a replica currently mounted to the headstock
  • The original owner's handbook and service book are present
  • Blank ‘Personal Certificate of Ownership’ present - the original in the first owner's name was likely retained when they sold the bike
  • Exempt from road tax and MOT testing
  • The vendor comments that the bike always generates a great deal of interest at shows

The Condition

  • The restored paintwork and (copious) chrome embellishments continue to present very well
  • The frame looks smart and shows no obvious signs of damage or corrosion
  • There appear to be remarkably few signs of wear - a testament to the quality of the restoration work and the care of subsequent custodians
  • All the period badging and stickers look smart - the vendor understands these were often stolen from these bikes in period
  • The instruments read clearly and all the controls appear in fine condition
  • No notable wear apparent to the seat upholstery, footpegs and grips
  • Both wheels look smart and the tyres show ample tread remaining

The Mechanics 

  • Based upon the Bonneville T140ES
  • 750 cc air-cooled parallel twin with electric start
  • Five-speed gearbox
  • The engine/gearbox casings and exhaust system present nicely
  • Electric start system works fine
  • Battery kept charged using a well-regarded Ctek system
  • As befits a British bike of this vintage, there are a couple of small oil leaks
  • The vendor informs us that it runs and rides well although recommends a tune-up to achieve optimum performance as it has been ridden sparingly during their ownership
DSCI0020.jpeg 2.43 MB


BEFORE YOU BUY 
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following: 
The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions.. 
We request that a non-refundable fee  be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates. 
This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind. 
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing. 
We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence. 
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own  full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle. 
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection 
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected] 
Icon

Selling your Triumph?


Advertise to 4 million monthly visitors on Car & Classic

Sell by Auction

Auction Details

  • Year1981
  • MakeTriumph
  • ModelBonneville T140
  • ColourBlue
  • Odometer578 Miles
  • Engine size750cc
  • Seller TypePrivate
  • CountyNorthumberland
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • Auction ends

Bidding history

14 Bids from 8 bidders

ron-pow••••
Bid
£5,000
30/07/24
HumberT••••
Bid
£4,850
30/07/24
keith-r••••
Bid
£4,750
30/07/24
HumberT••••
Bid
£4,650
30/07/24
ron-pow••••
Bid
£4,450
30/07/24
HumberT••••
Bid
£4,250
30/07/24
ron-pow••••
Bid
£4,150
30/07/24
HumberT••••
Bid
£3,700
29/07/24
ajg88aj••••
Bid
£3,500
29/07/24
HumberT••••
Bid
£3,400
29/07/24

Buying with Car & Classic

animation

How bidding works

All you need to know about the bidding process on Car & Classic

animation

Five steps to buying safely

We make it safe and simple to secure your dream classic

animation

Shipping & transport

Useful information on collecting your new vehicle

animation

Secure payments

How we protect you and your money, to make Car & Classic the safest place to transact

More FAQs

Gallery