page_title: Triumph Bandit
hierarchical_section_title: Triumph Bandit
caption_attribution_description: Rare 1971 350cc Triumph Bandit concept-designed by Edward Turner but production-designed by Bert Hopwood and Doug Hele. Costing problems meant that it was never mass-produced.
context_page_description: The Triumph Bandit was a British motorcycle manufactured as a prototype by Triumph in 1970. Originally designed by Edward Turner as his last project it was subsequently substantially modified at Triumph by a greatly critical Bert Hopwood and Doug Hele. Despite their work, the Bandit never went into commercial production, and only five have survived, making them very rare.
  Doug Hele stated that the model was dropped because design doubts such as the rapid wear of contact breaker points, did not justify the 'real money' cost of dies for components such as cylinder heads, the company then being in 'real financial trouble'. This was despite the fact that Hele had initially expected full production to follow after twelve pre-production models were made.
  Indeed, the Bandit was included in the 1971 brochure and publicity photographs taken at Umberslade Hall featuring British speedway rider and Triumph production tester Tony Lomas with British model Carol Cleveland had already been produced.
context_section_description: The Triumph Bandit was a British motorcycle manufactured  as a prototype by Triumph in 1970. Originally designed by Edward Turner (who was already retired from Triumph) as his last project it was subsequently substantially modified at Triumph by a greatly critical Bert Hopwood and Doug Hele. Despite their work, the Bandit never went into commercial production, and only five have survived, making them very rare. 
  Doug Hele stated that the model was dropped because design doubts such as the rapid wear of contact breaker points, did not justify the 'real money' cost of dies for components such as cylinder heads, the company then being in 'real financial trouble'. This was despite the fact that Hele had initially expected full production to follow after twelve pre-production models were made.
  Indeed, the Bandit was included in the 1971 brochure and publicity photographs taken at Umberslade Hall featuring British speedway rider and Triumph production tester Tony Lomas with British model Carol Cleveland (famous for British TV comedy Monty Python) had already been produced. 
  Hopwood did note that the production release date was constantly delayed from spring 1971 with even autumn 1972 suggested gravely affecting BSA-Triumph's credibility with dealers especially in the critical US market. 
  It has also been suggested that the model name was to have been Toledo but that had been taken by the Triumph car company and that the Bandit name was intended for the equivalent BSA model instead.
caption: 1971 Triumph Bandit T35R production prototype
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