To appeal to American consumers, Triumph introduced the Bonneville T120 in 1959. Triumph beefed up its inline-twin with dual carburetors, a one-piece crankshaft, a flared-port cylinder head, and a bolt-on flywheel. These technical improvements helped the 649 cc air-cooled mill produce 48,8 hp and achieve a top speed of 115 mph, or 185 km/h. In late 1959, the T120 supported the brand's American sales.
Likewise, Gibson revolutionized the music industry in 1959 by releasing the Les Paul Standard guitar. From Jimmy Page to Slash, the Les Paul has become the guitar that all rockers have snatched, and still snatch. To celebrate the anniversary of these 2 models, Triumph and Gibson announced a custom collaboration and partnership for the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride event.
Triumph has been a partner of this event since 2014 and the Hinckley brand recently renewed it until 2026. Together, during this event, Triumph and Gibson will help raise funds for men's mental health and cancer awareness prostate, but both brands will disclose full details of the partnership on March 22, 2022. But that's not all, the prepared press release teases a collaboration based on the Bonneville T120 and the Les Paul Standard.
While the original T120 Grey/Tangerine paint wasn't the most popular color at the time, it is highly sought after today. Of course, the latest generation Triumph Bonneville T120 moniker corresponds to the powertrain's displacement instead of the company's target top speed. Now, as a neo-retro model, the T120 features a 1 cc inline-twin producing 197 hp.
The Les Paul Standard has also evolved over the decades, with Gibson offering countless renditions since 1959. Despite the different versions, the original Burst finish remains the most iconic Les Paul to date.
Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until March 22, 2022 before Triumph and Gibson reveal what they have in store for us. 1959 may have been a pivotal year for both brands, but it looks like 2022 will be another instrumental moment for Triumph and Gibson.
