Triumph T100C Competition 500cc 1953. Looks to be an older restoration and still in nice condition, with matching engine, frame and crank case numbers. Bonhams sold one for $39,100.00 in 2016. Rarity and race heritage add mightily to the collectability of any vehicle, making this 1953 T100C one of the most desirable Triumphs ever. It can trace its roots back to the 500cc factory competition-shop 'special' that rider Ernie Lyons took to a surprise, rain-soaked victory at the 1947 Manx Grand Prix on the Isle of Man. This used a Tiger 100 bottom end, albeit with a roller-bearing crank, married to the lightweight alloy top end taken from a wartime generator the company had supplied to the RAF as part of their 'war effort.'. In 1948 through 1949 Triumph made over-the-counter replicas of the Lyons bike available to licensed racers which they called 'GP' in honor of the Lyons' win. Total production is estimated at less than 200 units. How many are left intact today, some 70 years later, is anyone's guess. From 1950, T100 riders looking for an additional racetrack advantage were advised to order a comprehensive Speed Kit from the factory, and install the parts themselves. However, for one year only, in 1953 the Triumph factory got back in the hot-rod business themselves announcing the T100C Tiger that year. It turned out to be a street-legal motorcycle but with all the Speed Kit go-fast parts already in place. Among these was a new twin-port manifold for the diecast aluminum cylinder head, which allowed use of the Kit's two Amal carburetors and single remote float bowl. Engine internals were highly polished and high-compression pistons and racing camshafts were fitted. In all, the mods brought output to 42bhp, a useful 10bhp increase over the standard T100. Even the 'sprung hub' frame was slightly different from the regular T100's, having lugs fitted for use with optional factory rear-set foot pegs. Works records show this particular matching-numbers T100C is one of less than 600 built
