Triumph Motorcycles, Meriden Documentary 1983 Part 4

[jonnosmythe]

Beattie is a star in this, any company would give their high-teeth for someone as devoted to this cause...

[meriden4ever]

New book out in July 2009 by John Rosamond on the Meriden Triumph Co-Op published by Veloce

[mac163]

intresting to know that that new 900 twin actually worked. i thought it was just a mock up, what a shame!

[meriden4ever]

Why couldn't Meriden be saved when the Americans still have their Milwaukee ?

Heavily subsidised by their banks and politically savvy importers, the Japanese were dumping their unwanted motorcycles all over the world at heavily discounted prices just to clear stock- something smaller European manufacturers could not compete against

[mac163]

plus the pound was at a all time high against the dollar. which as i remember a brand new at the time 1981 bonneville was around 3600 to 3800 dollars, lot of money in those days.

[themightyharrison]

Beattie mentions interest rates--that's one thing that people today forget. Interest rates in the late 70s and early 80s were absolutely crushing--approaching 20%.