Custom Elvis Presley Triumph motorcycle and Gibson Les Paul offered up for charity at Bonhams|Cars Amelia Island Auction on February 29th
A custom Triumph motorcycle and Gibson Les Paul paying tribute to the King, Elvis Presley will be auctioned off for charity at the Bonhams|Cars Amelia Island sale February 29.
Amelia Island, Florida – Bonhams|Cars will present a one-of-a-kind ‘Elvis Presley’ Triumph Bonneville motorcycle and matching Gibson Les Paul Guitar at The Amelia Island Auction on February 29. Estimated at $12,000 – 16,000 the lot has been donated to The Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that continues Elvis' tradition of generosity in the Memphis area.
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 neighborhood. 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 neighbors called the police to complain.
The matching Les Paul guitar, donated by Gibson, was also customized by artist J Daar and is 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.
"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 benefiting one of Elvis' favorite charities", said 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 represents a unique opportunity to own a stunning one-of-a-kind 'Elvis Presley' Triumph Bonneville motorcycle and a matching Gibson Les Paul guitar, both featuring an iconic design scheme.
The Amelia Island Auction
Amelia Island, Florida
February 29
About Bonhams|Cars - Bonhams|Cars uniquely offers a choice of live, online and private platforms for buying and selling collector cars—platforms characterised by levels of trust, reliability, and transparency born of over three decades of experience as the premier automotive auction house. Through prestigious live auctions around the world, 24/7 online auctions, and our recently introduced Private Sales service, Bonhams|Cars makes it simple for buyers and sellers to find the platform that best meets their needs.
Bonhams|Cars host 17 live auctions annually, participates in all the significant concours around the world, and presents unique selling opportunities at international events such as the 2023 Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the official auction partner of the Formula 1 Paddock Club™, Goodwood Motorsport Events in the UK, The Quail on the Monterey Peninsula in California, The Audrain Concours in Newport, Rhode Island, and The Zoute Concours d'Elégance in Belgium. At Bonhams|Cars Online, formerly The Market by Bonhams, we provide our clients with fast, expert, accurate and agile single-car auctions, 24/7. With dedicated motoring departments in London, Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Brussels, and beyond, Bonhams|Cars has a world-class team with expertise in all divisions, from vintage cars to racing motorsport and automobilia to motorcycles.
For more information, please visit BonhamsCars.com
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