Hurriedly prepared for its debut at the 1958 Earls Court Show (it was too late for inclusion in the 1959 catalogue) Triumph's Bonneville arrived at a time when young motorcycle enthusiasts wanted style as well as substance and had the money to pay for it. Finished in striking two-tone Tangerine/Pearl Grey with matching mudguards and black cycle parts, the bike was a real looker; and the name 'Bonneville', chosen in honour of Johnny Allen's record-breaking achievements with his Triumph-powered streamliner at the eponymous Utah Salt Flats, was an inspired piece of marketing. Works tester Percy Tait had achieved 128mph at MIRA on a development bike, and even though this figure proved beyond the reach of the production version the Bonnie was at least as fast as the opposition and much better looking, which was all that mattered.

A 1960 model built in November 1959, this Bonneville comes with numerous invoices relating to its restoration in the early 1990s while in previous ownership, including many from renowned marque specialist Hughie Hancox. Acquired by the Museum in 2004 and restored by them, the machine also comes with an attached commemorative silver plaque, a Certificate of Authenticity, and an old-style V5C document. The current odometer reading is 554 miles, which is believed to be the distance covered since the rebuild's completion. The machine's mechanical condition is not known; accordingly, prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to its condition, completeness, correctness, or otherwise prior to bidding.