Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Factory fire - the remains (15th March 2002)

For those who did not know Triumph had a fire in 2002 and wiped out the production of our bikes ..









Taken from Triumphrat.net...

Good thing mine was out of there before that!

Here's the whole story...The fire
At 21.00 on Friday the 15th March 2002, as the company was preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary as a motorcycle maker, its main factory was destroyed by a fire which began at the rear of the facility. At the height of the blaze over 100 firefighters were tackling the fire which destroyed most of the manufacturing capacity.
Thailand factory...
Nevertheless, the company, which by then numbered more than 650 employees, quickly rebuilt the facility and returned to production by September of that year. Furthermore, in 2003, Triumph opened a new, cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Thailand. Also, an assembly and painting facility in Thailand was opened in 2006 by Prince Andrew.[9] In September 2008 Triumph announced that they were expanding of their Thailand to increase capacity to over 130,000 motorcycles.
The future
The Triumph Group announced sales of 37,400 units in the financial year ending 30 June 2006. This represented a growth of 18% over the 31,600 units produced in 2005. Company turnover rose 13% to $370 million, but net profit remained static due to recent investment in production facilities.
In 21 July 2008 Triumph held a Global Dealer Conference where new models for 2009 were launched, including the official announcement of the parallel twin-cylinder Triumph Thunderbird 1600

I saw something with those pictures in... a book or something. Do you think someone over a TRat has been busy with a scanner or something?

I actually like that better, Dave.

I wonder how much the "blemmished" bikes were selling for?

My America was in that lot, probably it in the pic, grr waited 8 months..(bikeless)cheers, Tadpole

My Cardinal Red America was built 02/2002. So I guess you could say I have a Pre-fire America.

Tom

Prefire America or Exclusive, Limited Edition, One Year Only Bonneville America?

yep, limited Edition, Bonneville America

Uh huh. And while THIS result HERE may have been an EXTREME and once-in-a-lifetime occurance, let THIS BE A WARNING to ALL the Newbies out there of WHAT CAN HAPPEN if you twist the throttle of YOUR BA or Speedie as you simultaneously hit that starter button!!!!

I'm surprised at you Dwight. I thought for sure you'd go with, "These are the early Thunderbird prototypes that had even fewer cooling fins than the model that made it into production. They got so hot they melted down and took the factory with them."

You're slippin'...

Okay! That's a good one too!!!

2002 was not the first time, let,s hope it is the last.
59 350cc Triumph Motorcycles awaiting delivery were distroyed, plus all records & plans.
Staff searching for usable tools & parts were only stopped by the discovery of an UXB.
Place, Priory Street Coventry, date night of 14th November 1940, never again would Triumph bikes be built in Priory Street.

Yeah but that fire lead to the Meriden Plant, to many old school people the only place Triumphs were made... well me dad thinks that anyway....

I'm quite happy with my post fire Americas though. At least I have that pleasure in life.

Did they ever work out how it started?

Quote:

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My America was in that lot, probably it in the pic, grr waited 8 months

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Yep, reckon mine was also! At least we've got one of the first of the 'phoenix' line from the new plant! And Less likely to spontaneously combust I'm informed... which is always nice

I had a 2002 Bonneville that was pre fire and was destined for the Japanese market until the fire them it was made up to British spec.

That's cool, keep it home