When we hear the term ‘sand cast,’ we think of very early Honda CB750s and their famous sandpaper-rough engine cases. But it’s not a technique restricted to big factories or large-scale production.
This elegant, stripped down Triumph 6T Thunderbird is a showcase for small-scale casting, and earned its builder an invitation to the Biltwell People’s Champ competition—which is part of the Born Free show in the USA.
But this Thunderbird wasn’t built in a foundry in the Midwest: it was put together in the suburban back garden of a small terraced house in the middle of England. The builder is the remarkably talented Robbie Palmer, who created the lovely Triumph Daytona bobber we featured a couple of months ago.
He’s based in Northampton, a struggling former industrial town which is an unlikely location for a top-flight customizer.…