Today in motorcycle history, December 5, 1975

  



                                    

  

                              

  On December 5, 1975, the last of the Triumph T150 Trident's are shipped out,  288 are destined for Australia and another 224 for the USA.

  A last minute management decision at Norton-Villiers/Triumph  (NVT) diverts them from those highly competitive markets to fulfill an order of Tridents for the Saudi Arabian police force (sadly, most police forces in the United Kingdom had already switched to BMW's, but some like the Yorkshire Constabulary still used Tridents).  Five shipments, totaling 450 bikes were sent to Saudi Arabia, but the last 130 were still in Britain when the Saudis cancelled the order - so NVT decided to sell them in the UK as the exciting, new Triumph "Cardinal".
  Much to their chagrin, in 1982, dealers in the UK were told to begin bringing the bikes back from Saudi Arabia. These bikes had low mileages, but were very poorly maintained and were totally encrusted in sand. Then in another great management decision, they were restored and sold as 'stock' T160's.  

 Severe thunderstorms rumbled across England as Edward Turner began rolling in his grave.