The Triumph Model QA was introduced as the sports variant of the company’s Model P. This bike was displayed, and subsequently bought, at the 1926 Olympia Motorcycle Show. Tuned for higher performance and fitted with select show-model details, it embodied Triumph’s attempt to offer affordable but spirited transport to an eager post-war public. This particular machine was purchased new by Mr. Care, a First World War veteran from Bath, who used it until 1939. He then parked it for decades, preserving a rare example of this model. It was acquired by Mike Hawkins in 1961 after Mike turned up to view the bike on his recently restored 1925 AJS. Mr. Care was so impressed with the AJS restoration that he sold this bike for a small sum, adding an extra layer of provenance to an already distinctive motorcycle.
Mechanically, the Model QA is built around a 550-cc single-cylinder side-valve engine specially tuned to deliver more speed than the standard Model P. It has a nickel-plated clutch primary case and footrests, and rides on 26 x 3-inch beaded-edge tires—a specification that demands careful attention to inflation. A six-inch internal expanding front brake represents a marked improvement over the brakes of the 1925 Model P.
The machine uses a three-speed gearbox operated by a lever on the tank, a hallmark of the era. Its sprung leather saddle and neatly placed toolbox reflect the firm’s blend of practicality and style. Sidecar lugs are fitted to the rear, and the rim retains provision for a belt drive, hinting at the model’s adaptability.
Handlebar controls mirror the best practices of mid-1920s motorcycling: a front brake lever, throttle and air slides, a magneto advance/retard control, and a friction steering damper with shock-proof grips. These features allowed confident control even with a sidecar attached. Lighting is by acetylene gas, generated by adding water to calcium carbide in a small tank and feeding it to the front and rear lamps—a common but hands-on technology of the time.
Lubrication is manual: the rider must operate the oil pump every five to seven miles to keep the main bearings supplied. The petrol tank holds one and three-quarter gallons, good for roughly 75 miles. The carburetor is fitted with an air filter to help keep dust from the engine, reflecting Triumph’s attention to durability. Starting is by kick-starter with a return spring, and the three-speed gearbox requires a deft clutch hand to change gears smoothly.
Today, this 1926 Triumph Model QA stands as a rare sporting version of the Model P—an evocative survivor from the Olympia Show era that captures Triumph’s blend of sturdy engineering, user involvement, and accessible performance in the inter-war years. Its entire history is known- from display and purchase at the 1926 Olympia Show, being owned by Mr. Care until 1961, when it was purchased by Mike Hawkins. The bike was exported to the USA in 2008.
Guide Price: $12,300 – $14,500
Mike Hawkins talks about this motorcycle shortly before it was exported to the USA in 2008.