When Siegfried Bettmann emigrated to England from Germany in 1833, who could possibly know that his business selling bicycles and sewing machines would eventually morph into an iconic motorcycle brand that would produce some of the world’s fastest machines. In 1902 Triumph’s first motorcycle was produced, which was basically an engine mounted to a bicycle. 500 of these were sold, inspiring the company to create and manufacture its original designs. Their machines were so well-received that Triumph was chosen to supply 30,000 motorcycles to the Allied war effort during World War I. Following the war, Triumph continued making motorcycles faster and faster, until the company’s fortunes were altered by yet another war…

In WWII, the city of Coventry was hit hard by the German Air Force. Sustained bombing virtually destroyed the city, including the Triumph motorcycle factory. Demonstrating the resilience of the company, operations restarted just one year later at a new facility in the English village of Meridien. Triumph continued developing and improving its motorcycles, and became a formidable player in motorcycle racing. Triumph’s dedication to performance led to the creation of the motorcycle engine that held the world speed record for fifteen years. It was during this reign as “the world’s fastest” that Triumph introduced the T110.

When first introduced, the T110 was Triumph’s fastest production model to date, easily exceeding 100mph. In 1956 a heavily modified version of the T110 was clocked at 214.17mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Ironically, this amazing feat would inspire development of the bike’s successor (The Triumph Bonneville), while leading the end of production of the T110.

This particular bike is a 1957 four-speed model, with a right-hand shift gearbox. The bike features chrome badging, wire-spoke wheels, plus an Easy-Lift center stand the as well as a side kickstand. With performance remaining a priority for Triumph, the T110 came with a high-compression cylinder head, providing the power boost demanded by the company’s American consumers.

The shape of the rear cowling earned this model the nickname “The Bathtub,” as it was said to resemble an upside-down bathtub. Nickname aside, this bike ruled the streets, the track, and the salt flats for a decade-and-a-half. The T110 earned its reputation among motorcycle enthusiasts on the streets, but soared in popularity in the public eye when Hollywood A-lister and notorious speed-demon James Dean bought one for himself.

Few motorcycle manufacturers have maintained the brand cachet associated with Triumph over so many periods in history. Throughout the 20th century, Triumph earned its keep on the highways, the racetracks, the battlefields, and the big screen. Own a Triumph, and you’re riding a piece of history.