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Steve McQueen was so taken with Triumph's TR6C that he reportedly insisted on riding one in The Great Escape, and a 1968 Triumph TR6C Trophy "Desert Sled" now up for auction on Car & Classic shows exactly why the bike earned its reputation. Presented in highly restored, collector-quality condition, it has covered just 380 miles since its rebuild.
The TR6C was Triumph's tough, reliable, light and quick answer to the American off-road scene, and it dominated dirt racing through the 1950s and 1960s. This example is a 1969 model-year bike, and those late machines are the ones enthusiasts tend to prefer: Hepolite pistons and nitrided camshafts gave them tougher mechanicals, and the signature Trophy Red "Olympic Flame" paint with silver detailing made them the best-looking of the lot.
A Matching-Numbers Desert Sled
Power comes from the familiar 649cc overhead-valve twin, fed by a single Amal carburettor and paired with a four-speed manual gearbox. The vendor says the bike is matching numbers, and a letter from the Triumph Owners' Motor Cycle Club verifies the build date and its original U.S. destination. It stayed in the States until returning to the UK in 2019, and the current keeper has had it since September 2022.
Car & Classic notes the paintwork remains in very good order thanks to sparing use, and the chrome fittings look good in the photos. Details include all-terrain tires on wire wheels, a black saddle with Triumph detailing, a battery-less ignition system, a horn and a kill switch.
Ready to Ride
The bike is currently registered in Guernsey, is MOT exempt, and the buyer can re-register it on an age-related UK plate. Shipping can be arranged. The seller sums it up simply: it "runs and rides perfectly," and looks and sounds beautiful doing it. Car & Classic's own verdict is that this is one of the best TR6Cs it has seen in a long while.
With a Hollywood connection, a documented history and almost no miles on a fresh restoration, this desert sled gives a Triumph fan a rare chance to buy a finished example without taking on the work. Check out the full listing and photos at Car & Classic.
