PRESLEY TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLE & GIBSON GUITAR AUCTIONED FOR CHARITY THOUSANDS RAISED
A one-of-a-kind ‘Elvis Presley’ Triumph Bonneville motorcycle and matching Gibson Les Paul Guitar has sold at the Amelia Island Auction held by Bonhams|Cars on 29 February. The auction has raised $20,000 for the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation, who continue Elvis' legacy of generosity by supporting numerous charitable causes.
This motorcycle, a brand-new range-topping T120 model, features a custom design by award-winning custom artist J Daar and is inspired by the original 'Memphis Mafia' Triumphs and the Bonneville Desert Sled which featured in the 1968 Stay Away, Joe movie. It is also influenced by Elvis' iconic 1968 Comeback Special look, featuring red, silver and gold. The bike was unveiled at the 2023 Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham Alabama and has since been on display at Presley Motors Automobile Museum at Graceland.
The legendary musician and cultural icon was famously passionate about motorcycling. Elvis' introduction to Triumph motorcycles was in 1965 while taking a break from filming, and spending time with his closest friends, known as the 'Memphis Mafia', at his Bel Air home. Friend Jerry Schilling had ordered a new Triumph T120 Bonneville and Elvis took it for a ride around the neighbourhood. Elvis was impressed, and when he returned, he told his transportation manager, Alan Fortis, to "order one for all the guys, but...it has to be tonight!" Motorcycle dealers Bill Robertson & Sons managed to deliver seven Triumphs that night, and Elvis and his friends rode together around Bel Air late into the evening, only stopping when neighbours called the police to complain.
The matching Les Paul guitar, donated by Gibson, was also customised by artist J Daar and was offered for sale 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.
