· Limited edition Bonneville celebrating Johnny Allen’s 1956 land speed record set at the Bonneville Salt Flats
· Commemorates 100 years of land speed record setting at Bonneville
· Special paint scheme using the distinctive colours of Johnny Allen’s Texas Cee-Gar
· Individually numbered 1000 unit limited production run
Bonneville T214 Land Speed Limited Edition
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, methanol-fuelled motorcycle with a streamlined bodyshell 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.
On 6th September 1956 , AMA and FIM observers looked on as Allen set the world absolute speed record for a motorcycle at 214.40 mph. The now-classic 1959 Triumph Bonneville was named in tribute to the Texas Cee-Gar team’s record-setting efforts.
The 214.4 mph land speed record lasted until 1962 and was broken by Bill Johnson, riding the nitro methane powered Dudek Triumph streamliner to a speed record of 224.57.
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 $9,999. It will be in Triumph dealerships beginning November 2014. As with all Triumphs, the T214 comes with an unlimited mileage, two-year factory warranty. Service intervals are every 6000 miles, or one year, whichever comes first.
Jack Wilson’s shop was in Oak Cliff, a neighborhood in Dallas. The pride of the residents will have you believe it is a separate city. His restored Triumphs said “Made in Oak Cliff” on the steering tubes in the same lettering used by the factory. I remember a dusty faded Cee-Gar hanging in the storefront window. He used to run ads in the local newspaper that stated something to the effect “when the rising sun sets, we will still be selling Triumphs”