From the time of its introduction in 1948 the Triumph Trophy was established as a true all-rounder: a machine that could be ridden to work during the week and then, with extraneous components removed, competed on at weekends in its owner's chosen branch of motorcycle sport. Although catalogued primarily as a trials machine, its true forte was scrambles and the ISDT, events in which the power of the tuneable Triumph twin worked to its advantage and its weight was less of a handicap. The arrival of a new swinging-arm frame for 1955 finally put paid to the Trophy's pretensions as a one-day trials mount, for although the rear suspension enhanced traction and improved the handling, the lengthened wheelbase and increased weight rendered it uncompetitive. Nevertheless, the TR5 remained an extremely competent and stylish roadster until the end of production in 1958.

Owned by the current vendor since 1996, the machine offered here consists of a 1952 frame and a 1950 Trophy engine fitted with the 'square' aluminium-alloy cylinder barrels of the 1949/50-model Trophy (these particular barrels are from a wartime generator engine). The vendor advises us that the fuel tank has not been 'commissioned' since being re-plated (there appears to be no fuel tap). Offered with Swansea V5.