Triumph introduced the 5T Speed Twin in 1938, and it had a long production life. Here’s one of the later examples – it was registered and ridden for just two years and 1,300 miles, and then parked until recently. It starts and runs but you’ll need to spend some time and money to address a few things before you get this unique sidecar rig back on the road. Just make sure you keep whitewalls on it!
The 498cc air cooled twin produced 28 horsepower, good for a top speed of 90 miles per hour with the standard bike. In that case, expect that number to drop thanks to the extra weight of the Swallow Jet 80 sidecar.
This example was originally sold in San Francisco in early 1950 and is claimed to be all original except for a missing light on the sidecar fender. The whitewall tires are said to be original, too. The seller says the cosmetics are in good shape for the age, with the only real flaws being some pitting in the chrome and dents in the front fender. The double seat in the sidecar needs a new cover but in general it seems to be in decent shape.
Find this pre unit sidecar rig for sale in Valley Springs, California for $15,000 here on Craigslist.
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