From across the Pond, the siren call of the U.S. market was heard loud and clear at Triumph. The Yanks clamored for bigger everything even though the Speed Twin danced circles around the Indians and Harleys of the day. In response by 1949 Turner formulated the 650-cc 6T Thunderbird, ostensibly a low compression tourer but it certainly looked faster. It sold big time in the U.S. yet another history maker for Mr. Turner and British motorcycling.

Seen here is a 1951 model that because of its black paintjob earned the popular nickname “Blackbird.” It features a rigid frame but with the innovative yet controversial “Spring Hub” solution for rear suspension first seen in action at the Manx Gran Prix and now supplied with Triumph street machines. For ’51 the 6T enjoyed an upgrade to a larger Amal carb and improvements to the 7-inch single leading shoe front brake. It also wears the distinctive Thunderbird headlight nacelle/instruments/handlebar mount all-in-one packaging.

And yes, Marlon Brando's character Johnny's as portrayed in the iconic “biker” movie “The Wild One was riding a Triumph Thunderbird 6T, actually Brando’s personal machine.

From the Baker collection, showing a pristine restoration and an odometer reading of 239 miles, it appears to require only gas and oil then ready to fire up via the Lucas magneto.