When Edward Turner was moved from Ariel to become the General Manager and Chief Designer of Triumph, one of the sweeping changes he made was to update the naming of the 250, 350, and 500cc Mk.5 singles. There were other changes but the bikes got an actual name of “Tiger”, which a suffix hinting at the what the claimed top speed was – the 250 became the Tiger 70, the 350 became the Tiger 80, and the 500 became the Tiger 90.
The seller includes a couple of photos from the original brochure, which amusingly show a price of 55 pounds and highlights “Some Interesting Triumph Features” like the oil bath, number plate, gear box, twist grip, instrument panel, and the name plate. Regarding the last feature, Triumph says: “Even the best transfer is apt to deteriorate and for 1938 the name of Triumph appears on the tank in the form of an attractive all-metal permanent plate. This is highly finished and adds a yet a further touch of distinction to the machines.” I love old marketing.
Find this Tiger for sale in Minneapolis, Minnesota with bidding up to $9,000 here on eBay.
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