Fueled by the movie "Easy Rider," motorcycling in the 1970s was heavily about choppers. Even the factories got involved with their own custom-style models, what would become the cruiser class, popular to this day. An early success in that vein was Yamaha's XS650 Special. Noting their competitor's good sales with an air-cooled vertical-twin, Triumph embraced the factory- custom concept with its own cruiser, the Bonneville Special. This was finished in back with gold pinstriping, ran special badges, and was equipped with Lester cast wheels, a 2-into-1 exhaust system and a stepped saddle. Produced for two years in limited numbers, it is one of the rarer Bonneville variants.

The owner reports that this first-year, matching-numbers T140D Special was "built to ride." A Nevada bike with just over 8000 miles, it has been treated to a rebuilt top-end and clutch, new tires and inner tubes, a fresh battery, electronic ignition, plus overhauled carburetors and new air filters.