Worse was to follow. The early 1970s were difficult years for British industry. Labor troubles and official policies led to government-ordered mergers among vehicle manufacturers, including the combining of the BSA Group with Norton Villiers. The new Norton Villiers-Triumph operation solved none of Triumph’s problems. In fact, NV-T exacerbated matters when it ordered the closing of the Triumph factory in 1974. Workers organized a sit-in, and production came to a halt. Though the workers ended up owning the factory (purchasing it with a government grant) and production resumed, the business was declared bankrupt in 1983.

This is when John Bloor purchased the Triumph name and then spent the next six years building the ultramodern Hinckley factory and overseeing the design and testing of a new series of Triumph motorcycles. The first of these, a 4-cylinder model called Trophy, went on sale in 1991. Three-cylinder Tridents and 4-cylinder Daytonas followed.

Though none of these machines shared more than basic configuration with earlier Triumphs, the company was, and remains, well aware of the value of its heritage. This was made especially clear when the Bonneville was added to the lineup in 2000. The legendary twin was reborn and though it too represented an all-new design, every attempt was made to connect it to the company’s history in terms of its feel and its appearance.