Vintage Motor Brands Triumph Bonneville 1959 - Pearl Grey/Azure Blue 1:6

Vintage Motor Brands 1:6 diecast and resin model of the 1959 Triumph Bonneville in Pearl Grey and Azure Blue.

This is in fact a second colourway of the 1:6 Bonneville, as the Tangerine Dream edition of the Bonneville was already replicated in 2018. It sold out almost instantly.

It got its name from the exploits of a particular rider at a specific event. In this case, that rider was Johnny Allen. And it was from his successful attempt on the two-wheeled speed record in 1956 at the Bonneville Salt Flats that the bike derived its name.

The US market had been crying out for a Triumph bike with a more sporty edge. And so the company took its T100 and fitted the new bike with the T100’s Amal monobloc carburettors and the same bike’s high-performance camshaft.

In truth, although the bike was the founder of a dynasty it didn’t go down particularly well in the US. The styling was a little old-fashioned, and they didn’t like the garish orange paintwork. These criticisms were addressed on later bikes, but to quell the immediate resistance Triumph produced a second colourway: Azure Blue over Pearl Grey, and this is the bike that has been modelled here.

When we first embarked on the project to replicate the Bonneville, we went straight to Kev and Cliff at Ace Classics, who provided invaluable assistance in helping us to get this bike as correct as it could be. In fact, the 1:6 VMB model is based on the bike owned by them, and that sits in their showroom. The only change we made was to equip the model with the European tank and handlebars.

The original model received great reviews when it was first released, which may account for the fact that it sold out within a couple of months, leaving many collectors disappointed. The second version, as you might expect, is identical to the original model in every respect other than colour.

Despite what is printed on the limited edition certificate that comes with the bike, only 300 have been produced. It is most unlikely that it will ever go into production again so, in effect, the limited edition quantity is 300. Only 200 pieces remain in VMB’s warehouse. We would expect the bike to be sold out well before Christmas. Measures 33cm in length.