something completely different

Side Hack of Simon found on Facebook

via straightspeed

Honda Gorilla by Python

Foto: mini4temps-lovers.com
via Racing Café

Triumph TT600: England expected…

In 2000, great things were hoped for from the revitalised Hinckley-based company when it announced it was entering the 600cc Supersports market. The bike it produced was one of the finest handling in the class, albeit with one – quite major – fault: the innovative fuel-injection system lacked the immediate response of rivals’ carb set-ups.

So while the patriotic British Triumph enthusiast could comfortably out-corner his Honda-, Yamaha- and Suzuki-riding mates enjoying the ‘Cat and Fiddle’ on an early summer’s morning, come the straights he got a little left behind.

If it were a case of ‘last man home buys the bacon butties’, the TT600-owner would be left considerably out of pocket.

Triumph fixed the problem within a couple of years and the TT600 was then almost as good as its competitors. It was superseded by the bigger-engined, still four-cylinder ‘TT650’. Today, Triumph’s sole representative in the Supersports class is the ‘Daytona 675’, a triple.


In something like the Isle of Man TT, however, handling is all, and as long as a healthy power output can be generated somehow, a skilled rider can cope with peakiness and lack of torque. As a result, several TT600s were raced.

The example you see here, for sale by auction at Bonhams’ 28 April Stafford Motorcycle Sale, is a typical example and carries the livery of well-known British Triumph distributor Jack Lilley. Estimate: £3,000 - 4,000.

Related Links To find out more, please see the listing of this rare racing motorcycle in the Classic Driver Marketplace

Text: Steve Wakefield (Classic Driver)
Photos: Bonhams

Packing for Paris: ‘La Lollo’ wasn’t one to travel light

When two goddesses come face to face, there can be problems. Not in this instance, however, since the goddesses in question were film star Gina Lollobrigida and the Citroën ‘Déesse’ and who – judging by this photograph – understood each other well.

The photo shows Gina Lollobrigida with a major suitcase problem; or should that be thirteen problems? The picture was taken at a photoshoot for Paris Matchmagazine, to accompany a story on the revolutionary Citroën DS – and to help demonstrate the wonderful luxury of luggage space. Believe it or not, all the suitcases in the picture would have fitted into the Citroën. Or so we’re told. 

Related Links 'Cardinale, Loren, Lollobrigida: Curvaceous Evolution' feature in the Classic Driver Magazine Some beautiful Citroën DSs can be found in the Classic Driver Marketplace

Text: J. Philip Rathgen (ClassicDriver)
Photos: Getty Images