A MOTORCYCLE MYTH CONFIRMED
- Le cadeau ultime de tout motard - Neuf Triumph de 64 achetées en 1965 par Elvis Presley pour lui et sa Memphis Mafia
- Aidez-nous à retrouver les Triumph Memphis Mafia - Ces motos historiques ont-elles définitivement disparu ?
- Une occasion unique de posséder une Triumph « Elvis Presley » et une guitare assortie - Collecte de fonds pour l’association Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation
Triumph Motorcycles a découvert la vérité sur un grand mythe : en 1965, Elvis Presley aurait offert un merveilleux cadeau à chacun des membres de sa « mafia de Memphis ».
Après la découverte des documents de contrôle originaux signés de la main du King dans les archives de Graceland et grâce aux souvenirs de Jerry Shilling, un ami proche d’Elvis, nous pouvons affirmer qu’Elvis avait acheté et offert neuf Triumph à ses amis pour pouvoir rouler avec eux dans les collines de Los Angeles.
L’HISTOIRE
Elvis Presley est une légende de la musique et une véritable icône culturelle : artiste solo le plus vendu de l’histoire et vraie star du cinéma, avec 31 films à son actif au cours de sa carrière à Hollywood. Motard passionné, il a piloté des motos dans plusieurs de ses films, dont une Triumph 650 Bonneville « Desert Sled » rouge et argent dans la comédie de 1968 « Micmac au Montana ».
Mais Elvis avait découvert les motos Triumph plusieurs années auparavant lors de cette histoire aussi rock and roll que lui.
En juin 1965, Elvis tournait la comédie musicale « Une rousse qui porte bonheur » dans les Samuel Goldwyn Studios, à Hollywood. Entre deux journées de tournage, il passait son temps libre dans sa propriété de Bel Air avec ses amis les plus proches, connus sous le nom de « Memphis Mafia ».
Jerry Schilling, ami d’Elvis et membre de la célèbre « Memphis Mafia », avait réservé une nouvelle Triumph T120 650 Bonneville chez Bill Robertson & Sons sur Santa Monica Boulevard. Lorsqu’il rapporta la moto à la maison, Elvis lui demanda s’il pouvait faire un tour dans le quartier de Bel Air. Bien évidemment, Jerry accepta et Elvis sauta sur la moto. Il fut si impressionné qu’à son retour, il ordonna à son responsable des transports, Alan Fortis, d’en « commander une pour chacun des gars, mais qu’elles soient là avant ce soir ! ».
Bill Robertson & Sons parvint à livrer sept Triumph ce jour-là : des 650 TR6 et des 650 T120 à double carburateur. Ensemble, ils sillonnèrent Bel Air jusque tard dans la soirée et s’arrêtèrent seulement quand les voisins finirent par appeler la police. Les autres motos arrivèrent deux jours plus tard et les neuf amis purent alors profiter des pauses du tournage en arpentant la Pacific Coast Highway les dimanches.
Jerry Schilling, un proche ami d’Elvis, se souvient : « Elvis adorait la moto. Je savais qu’il voudrait essayer ma nouvelle Bonneville quand il la verrait... Et après l’avoir fait, il a voulu que tous les gars en aient une pour qu’on puisse rouler ensemble ! »
THE 1964 TRIUMPH 650 TR6 AND BONNEVILLE T120
The bikes that Elvis bought are considered most likely to be 1964 models of Triumph’s game-changing performance roadster, the 650 TR6 and 650 Bonneville T120, which were essentially the same bike with one or two carburetors and different states of tune. The ’64 Bonneville came in the sophisticated Gold and Alaskan White and the TR6 in the distinctive ‘Hifi Scarlet and Silver Sheen’ with gold pinstriping, black frame and forks.
Named after Triumph’s multiple land speed records at the Bonneville salt flats, the Bonneville T120 is recognized across the motorcycling world as a genuine design icon, responsible for establishing Triumph as number one in the 60s for performance, handling, and style, and the 1964 US-spec ‘Bonnie’, with its higher bars is considered a classic.
HELP FIND THE MEMPHIS MAFIA TRIUMPHS
All nine of the original bikes are currently lost to time, with no formal record of where they went after the summer of ’65. Triumph is now launching an appeal to fans around the world to help track down or uncover the fate of these bikes.
Triumph’s researchers are keen to hear from anyone who has a lead on what happened to one of these bikes, or perhaps a last known location.
With the collective eyes of the Triumph and Elvis communities on the look-out, it is hoped that one of these historic bikes will one day come to light and make history by being placed on display alongside other historic Triumphs.
If you have any information related to the whereabouts of one of these historic bikes, please contact Triumph at [email protected].
A ONE-OF-A-KIND ‘ELVIS PRESLEY’ CUSTOM TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLE
AND MATCHING GIBSON LES PAUL GUITAR
The discovery of this great story has filled a gap in the history books and added a new, previously untold chapter to Triumph’s own story. In celebration of this newly uncovered shared history between two iconic and enduring brands, Triumph and Elvis Presley Enterprises have commissioned a one-of-a-kind custom motorcycle to raise money for a very worthy cause.
This custom Bonneville, based on a brand-new T120 model, features a custom design scheme by award-winning custom artist J Daar and is inspired by the 1964 Memphis Mafia bikes and 1968 Stay Away Joe Desert Sled, as well as being influenced by Elvis’ most iconic 1968 Comeback Special look. The design features gold block lettering, representing Elvis’ name written in lights, as well as silhouettes on a red background, echoing the set design of his most famous ’68 Comeback Special performance.
The bike was unveiled by Triumph USA Marketing Director, Adam VanderVeen, at the 2023 Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham Alabama, where it was on display at the ‘Isle of Triumph’ alongside a host of historic Triumph motorcycles. These included an original 1964 Bonneville T120 in the same gold color scheme as several of the bikes purchased by Elvis, which was entered into the VAHNA Motorcycle Show by owner Laura Langham.
Speaking at the show, custom motorcycle artist J Daar said: “I was honored to pull the sheet off this amazing motorcycle. Tribute bikes are always special, but an homage to The King is one of the coolest projects I’ve worked on. This bike is something the new owner can be incredibly proud to have in their garage. Not only is it a unique design celebrating a great story, but it’s also a great way to raise money for such a worthy cause.”
Also on display at Barber Fest was a Les Paul guitar with a temporary custom wrap designed to complement the one-off Bonneville T120. The Les Paul, donated by Gibson, will also be painted by artist J Daar and is to be auctioned along with the motorcycle. The choice of guitar was inspired by another instance of Elvis’ generosity; when rehearsing for the ’68 Comeback Special, Elvis played a Les Paul, which he then gifted to his chef. The design adopts the same red, silver and gold scheme as the motorcycle, as well as the prominent Elvis graphic featured on the fuel tank and side panels, and incorporates silhouettes of The King around the body, inspired by his iconic ‘’68 Comeback Special’ look.
Beth Heidt, Chief Marketing Officer for Gibson commented: “We have had the honor of working in partnership with the Elvis team to celebrate his legacy over many years, so when we heard that our friends at Graceland and Triumph were working together on a custom motorcycle to raise awareness and funds for a good cause, we wanted to join in honoring Elvis’ spirit of generosity – and similar to what we did with our ’59 Legends Collection in support of The 2022 Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride, this customized Gibson Les Paul model pairs perfectly with the amazing design scheme of the bike.”
If you have any information related to the whereabouts of one of these historic bikes, please contact Triumph
“We are excited to be partnering with an iconic brand like Triumph to bring this one-of-a-kind custom Bonneville T120 to life while benefitting one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes Community Services in Memphis,” says Dana Carpenter, Executive Vice President, Entertainment at Authentic Brands Group, owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises. “The added generosity of our friends at Gibson for contributing a matching custom Les Paul guitar, strengthens the legacy of generosity and community that Elvis Presley stood for.”
This custom Bonneville T120 motorcycle and matching Gibson Les Paul guitar have been donated to the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation to raise money for one of Elvis' favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a Memphis facility that provides counselling and services for abused children and their families.
More details about the auction will be available soon at Graceland.com
