In 1968 BSA introduced the three cylinder Rocket 3. The 175R was the top model at the time and also the last develop stage in the history of the traditional English manufacturer. It seems ages ago that the last BSA A75R Rocket MkI has left the production in Birmingham. It was exactly that time, when in the late 60s the British motorcycle industry was about to collapse. Her former World wide domination had vanished. Many great names, such as Vincent, Matchless, AJS, Scott, Sunbeam, Velocette, Ariel and Royal Enfield were long gone. Only Norton, Triumph and BSA tried was, what was left to safe, but it did not last, as we now know. The end of the “good old British bikes” was already visible years before. A cooperating management determined the model range at BSA and Triumph. The well known and reliable one and two cylinder machines were heavily favoured and they were convinced that British motor cycles were the best in the World. Edward Turner, the father of the legendary Triumph 500 Speed Twin was not interested in new constructions and developments. The Triumph engineers Doug Hele, Bert Hopwood and Jack Wicks had a different opinion. Since the beginning of the sixties they secretly worked on a 750 ccm three cylinder engine.
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