A Triumph Motorcycles discovered the truth behind a famous motorcycle myth: in 1965, Elvis Presley decided to give an extraordinary gift to all members of his “Memphis Mafia”: Triumph TR6 and T120 motorcycles. Now, Triumph, Gibson, and Elvis Presley Enterprises join forces to uncover, restore, and assist in a noble cause.
After finding the original purchase checks in the Graceland archives, signed by Elvis himself – a discovery supported by the account of Jerry Shilling, a close friend of Elvis – it can be confirmed that ‘the King of Rock’ bought nine Triumph motorcycles to ride with his closest friends in the hills of Los Angeles.
Elvis Presley is a music legend and a cultural icon. He is the best-selling solo artist in history and a true movie star, with 31 Hollywood films under his belt. He was also a passionate motorcyclist and appeared on a motorcycle in several of his films, including riding a red and silver Triumph Bonneville 650 ‘Desert Sled’ in the 1968 musical comedy, ‘Stay Away Joe’. But Elvis’ connection to Triumph happened years before, in a story that has as much ‘rock and roll’ as its protagonist.In June 1965, Elvis participated in the musical ‘Frankie and Johnny’, filmed at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios in Hollywood and, when leaving the set, he spent his free time with his closest friends, known as ‘the Memphis mafia’, at his home in Bel Air. One day Jerry Schilling, a friend of Elvis and a member of the famous “Memphis Mafia”, bought a Triumph T120 Bonneville 650 at Robertson & Sons on Santa Monica Boulevard and when he brought the bike home, Elvis asked him to take a ride around the neighborhood. Jerry, of course, agreed. Elvis tested the bike and was impressed. So much so that when he returned, he asked his associate Alan Fortis to order “one for each of the guys, but it has to be tonight!” Robertson managed to deliver seven Triumph motorcycles that same night, a mix of TR6 and T120 with high-performance dual carburetors.
Together, they rode through Bel Air until the early hours of the morning and only stopped when the neighbors called the police. The missing bikes arrived two days later and the nine friends made sure to make the most of the free time left by the filming, going out every Sunday to ride together on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Jerry Shilling, a close friend of Elvis, recalls: “Elvis loved to ride motorcycles and I knew that when he saw my new Bonneville he would want to try it out… And when he did, he wanted all his friends to have one so we could ride together.”
THE TRIUMPH TR6 AND THE ’64 BONNEVILLE T120
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It is believed that the Triumphs Elvis bought were likely 1964 models: TR6 and Bonneville T120, 650cc, two models that were revolutionary in terms of performance and essentially the same motorcycle with one or two carburetors and different configurations. The ’64 Bonneville was marketed in two colors: ‘Gold and Alaskan White’; while the TR6 had a ‘Hifi Scarlet and Silver Sheen’ scheme with gold pinstripes, in addition to the black frame and fork.
The Bonneville T120 was launched in 1959 and was named in tribute to Triumph’s multiple speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats and is recognized worldwide in the motorcycle world as a true design icon and responsible for elevating Triumph to the top in performance, handling, and style during the 60s. The 1964 ‘Bonnie’ with American specifications and high handlebars is considered a highly coveted classic today.
HELP FIND THE TRIUMPHS OF THE ‘MEMPHIS MAFIA’
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The nine original bikes are currently missing, with no formal record of their whereabouts after the summer of 1965. That’s why Triumph is now appealing to fans worldwide to help locate these bikes and discover their current fate.
Triumph investigators are eager to find anyone who may have reliable information on what happened to each of these bikes, or their last known location. With Triumph and Elvis fans on the lookout, there is hope that one day one of these bikes will come to light and be displayed alongside other historic Triumphs. If you have any information on the whereabouts of one of these historic bikes, please contact Triumph via email at [email protected].
A UNIQUE ‘ELVIS PRESLEY’ TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLE AND A MATCHING LES PAUL GUITAR
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This great story fills a gap in the books and adds a new, unprecedented chapter to the history of Triumph. To celebrate this common narrative between two iconic and timeless brands, Triumph and Elvis Presley Enterprises collaborated on the design of a unique motorcycle that will raise funds for a good cause. The customized ‘Elvis Presley’ Bonneville, based on the current T120 model, features an exclusive paint scheme by renowned custom motorcycle artist J. Daar, inspired by the ‘Memphis Mafia’ bikes of 1964 and the 1968 Desert Sled featured in ‘Stay Away Joe’, as well as influenced by the iconic look of the 1968 ‘Comeback Special’ concert.
The design features golden capital letters representing Elvis’s name written in lights, as well as silhouettes on a red background depicting the setting of this famous televised concert in 1968.
This motorcycle was unveiled at the 2023 Barber Vintage Motorcycle Festival in Birmingham, Alabama, within the ‘Isle of Triumph’ area, alongside other historic Triumphs, including an original 1965 Bonneville borrowed from the Barber Motorsports Museum, from the same era as Elvis’s bikes.During the festival, J. Daar commented: “It was an honor to work on this incredible motorcycle. Tribute bikes are always special, but this homage to the ‘King’ is one of the most fantastic projects I have ever worked on. It is a piece that the new owner can be incredibly proud to have in their garage. It is not just a unique design that celebrates a great history, it is a great way to raise money for such a worthy cause.”
The Barber Fest also showcased a special Les Paul guitar, unique for being customized to match J. Daar’s Bonneville T120, donated by Gibson to be auctioned along with the motorcycle. The choice of the guitar was also inspired by another example of Elvis’ generosity; as after rehearsing for the ’68 ‘Comeback Special’ with a Les Paul replica, Elvis gave it to his Chef. The design adopts the same red, silver, and gold scheme as the motorcycle, with prominent Elvis graphics on the fuel tank and “The King” silhouettes inspired by the famous 1968 concert style.
Beth Heidt, marketing director at Gibson, stated: “It was an honor to work in collaboration with Elvis’ team to celebrate his legacy over so many years. So, when we learned that our friends at Graceland and Triumph were working together on a custom motorcycle to raise funds for a good cause, we wanted to join the project to honor Elvis’ generous spirit and, just as we did with our Legends ’59 Collection to support ‘The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride’ in 2022, this custom Les Paul guitar perfectly complements the amazing design scheme of the motorcycle.”
“We are excited about partnering with a brand as iconic as Triumph in presenting this exclusive Bonneville T120 and collaborating with Goodwill Homes Community Services in Memphis, one of Elvis’ favorite charities,” said Dana Carpenter, Executive Vice President of the Authentic Brands Group, owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises. “Furthermore, the generosity of our friends at Gibson in contributing a Les Paul guitar strengthens Elvis Presley’s legacy of aid and community service.” Both the custom Bonneville T120 and the corresponding Les Paul guitar were donated to the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation to raise funds for one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a center in Memphis that provides counseling and services for abused children and their families.
