Triumph honours land speed record with special edition Bonneville

There will only be 1000 examples of the Triumph Bonneville T214 produced.

In 1956 a Triumph Thunderbird based streamliner set a land speed record at Bonneville, the first of many Triumph motorcycles to set records on the hallowed salt flats.

Now 100 years after the first land speed records were set at Bonneville, Triumph are releasing a very limited edition Bonneville to commemorate the special relationship the British brand has with the iconic patch of America.

In particular the Limited Edition Bonneville T214 celebrates the achievements of Texas-born racer Johnny Allen, and his record-breaking Triumph-powered Cee-Gar streamliner which, in 1956, set the first of many land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats by recording a two-way average of 214.4mph.

The "Texas Cee-Gar," a Triumph Thunderbird 650 powered streamlined body motorcycle running methanol as fuel was built by airline pilot J.H. "Stormy" Mangham, and Fort Worth dealer, tuner and 2001 Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, Jack Wilson and piloted by legendary Texas racer Johnny Allen.

The now-classic 1959 Triumph Bonneville was named in tribute to the Texas Cee-Gar team's record-setting efforts.

The new Bonneville T214 Limited Edition, based on the T100 Black, pays homage to the remarkable land speed record achievement.

The hand painted Caspian Blue and Pure White colour scheme complete with red and white chequer detailing echoes that of the 1956 Texas Cee-Gar. The blue front mudguard shares the same white star motif from the nosecone of the iconic streamliner.

The shortened rear mudguard combined with blacked out wheel rims, handlebars, and rear suspension springs add to the authentic look which is complimented with red seat stitching detail and a smaller front headlight.

Limited to a total of 1000 bikes worldwide, each individually numbered, the T214, is priced from $15,990. It will be in Triumph dealerships from early November.