T Bird
To many enthusiasts the name of the Triumph Thunderbird will always be associated along with that of Marlon Brando and his character Johnny Strabler in the 1950’s film The Wild One. Based on Frank Rooney’s book ‘The Cyclist Raid’ which covered the sensational media coverage of the AMA’s rally that got out of hand on the 4th of July 1947 in Hollister California – the movie did little to enhance the image of motorcycling to the masses. In fact the Board of Censors considered it to be totally unsuitable for British cinema goers and from its initial release in 1953 it would take another fifteen years before it was eventually given an X certificate with the first public viewing at the 59 Club in Paddington in 1968.
Brando’s bike was his own slightly customised 1950 Thunderbird but if you happen to see his life size image in Madame Tussauds waxworks you will see he is stood next to a
