1966 Triumph T 120 C TT Special

1966 Triumph T120C TT Special . bike was refreshed 4 years ago by Rod Wheeler " the Triumph Guy". same owner for last 25 years In the 1950s and 1960s. Triumph’s 650 twins were barred from AMA Class C racing. which limited overhead valve engines to 500cc. The regulations kept the big twins off the dirt ovals. There was another form of dirt competition known as TT racing – the name was derived from the British Tourist Trophy races. American TTs were held on dirt courses. but they had to have a motocross-like jump. Some courses were simple ovals with a jump. while others had left and right turns like a road course. In this form of racing. the 650 Triumphs were allowed. and they dominated. From 1963 through 1967. Triumph built a series of TT Specials for sale only in the American market. These were rare examples of a ready-to-race motorcycle. available to the public. Based on the Bonneville. non-essentials were stripped away and the engine was tuned for an extra two horsepower. In 1966. a second. even more potent series was introduced. with improvements suggested by the racers themselves. Compression was increased from 9. 5 to 11. 2:1. final drive gearing was lowered to 5:41:1 allowing even better acceleration. fork and rear shock dampening were upgraded and fenders were changed from steel to lightweight. polished aluminum. The offered bike is from early 1966 production of the second series and has all the signature items of that model. including the down swept. tucked in pipes. narrow tank. aluminum fenders and no lighting system. Internally. the engine is as it left the factory. The original paint scheme of white with orange trim has survived as in period. I have owned the bike for the past twenty-five years it has been shuffled between storage and living room. Racers were able to win with little modification to their TT Specials. In 1966. there were three TTs on the AMA Grand National circuit. Castle Rock. Peoria and Ascot. The legendary Eddie Mulder won all three on a bike very similar to this example. Evel Knievel also immortalized the TT Special when he attempted to jump the fountain at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas on December 31. 1967 astride a bike similar to the one offered here. It presents an opportunity to own a direct link to Triumph’s glorious competition history in America.