It Takes a Lot of Balls #2

Another Balls to the Walls fully dressed Harley.


Sorry about the lack of posts (been busy), and it's probably going to stay that way until later this month. I'll catch up with photos from El Camino and other stuff as soon as I can.

German Helmets and Purple Shag Carpet

I always think folks from the past would be puzzled and or amazed by the strange combinations of stuff that emerges. Can you imagine telling a soldier during WWII, that in the future, there would be some guy wearing a German motorcycle helmet on a rig like this? What strangeness awaits us?

Noot's Dresser

Actually, he just thought I'd like this old school '67 dresser from Sturgis. The tail piece is outrageous and those lanterns really crack me up. It's cool to see these old land barges are still being ridden.

Flocking Ecstasy

There is so much going on with this 1966 Electra-Glide and it's display it's almost hard to figure out what is what. Mirrors, lights chains, tinsel garlands, signs, trophies, drapes, skulls, devil heads, coins, and confetti.... and then there's the bike. How about that flocking paint job! (Purple Velvetex). Read what you can on the sign. It makes for one busy photograph, but it must have been fun to see in the flesh.

33 Coats

In my book, Duo-Glides make the best Full Dressers.

This 1961 Harley FLH, while cool, is fairly mild Dresser by show standards. On the other hand, I'll bet the paint looked great in color. A lot show displays included tool kits, but this selection, while arranged nicely, strikes me as a bit ordinary or funny. I guess it's all those sockets lined up.

Holiday Wishes

May all your dressers be lit like a Christmas tree.

It Took A Lot Of Balls...

328 chrome ones!... to customize this '77 Harley Full Dresser.

Recently on Ebay

286 small chrome balls, 42 large chrome balls, 75 lights, 263 chrome bullets, and 23 visors to be exact.

You might say, a dresser for the "Fringe Element".

A lot of balls and horny too!

Seller said, "this bike is VERY front end heavy and will take getting used to". "this bike will NOT do 70 mph on the freeway".

Also stated, "this is an old bike that rattles, vibrates, and has seen better days. Definitely a treasure".

Really?!! ...a treasure?

Survivor?

I shot this dresser in 1996 at the show that Los Angeles Harley-Davidson puts on every August. This dresser was not in the show, but parked out front. Because most of the bikes in the show are new and for the most part not very interesting to me, I believe it's the last time I went.

From a few clues, I'd say it's a '68. The tank decals are from a '72 and were designed to fit the then new straight bar badges. Similar style decals were used in '71 and were made to conformed to this style of badge. The original buddy seat was reshaped into a wild King and Queen style that looks like a tight fit for two, but helmets hung from the both ends of the bars mean it's being put to use.

I was already appreciating old surviving dressers and thought it was a cool relic back then. I wonder what happened to this one, could it still be around?

Cheers!

Good to be Back In The Saddle Again

Electra-Glide... the only way to fly!

The Dresser Wars

Are Heating Up!
Another classic Battle Wagon to keep Tjebbe of ZZChop inspired.

This one's a 1960 in the cool original H-D Hi-Fi green/turquoise paint.

Don't worry, I'll get back to posting some cool choppers. It's just that these things are so much fun to look at.

For Irish Rich, Elvis' Liberator

Had to put these up for Rich after finding he's an out of the closet Liberator fan. Go to his Applied Machete blog for more info on these little seen beasts.

This shot was taken at Graceland. I believe it's a '76. Yup, that's a Stutz. The King had impeccable taste.

I believe it's now on display at a Harley dealer.

A Good Dresser is Hard to Find

I recently received an email from Tjebbe of the ZZChop blog explaining how ever since my post on dressers, he's been hooked, but being a chopper guy, doesn't want to be!

He went on to say how he's been hunting the internet for those elusive dresser photos.

Good pictures of dressers are a lot tougher than choppers to find. Maybe that's partly what makes them interesting.


Hopefully these beast will help him cope with his new found addiction.

This Month's Header

June represents the beginning of Summer, Grads and Dads, and since school is over, for many families that means summer vacations. That in turn means (like them or not), there's no avoiding RV's on the road.


Motorcycles are RV's too! I did this goofy drawing of a over the top dresser in about 1973.

By the way, for many years I've thought "Vacation" was a weird way of putting it. I think the English have the right idea when they say, "I'm going on Holiday".

1970 Harley NOK (New Old Kustom)

I saw this bike when it was originally for sale (just before Big Scott bought it), at the Long Beach Swap. It especially caught my eye because I own a restored '70. It was on a trailer as found, covered with the dust and patina of time and for the most part, looked little used. It was very puzzling until I checked the speedometer.


That's one wild dresser! It's amazing how chrome and paint can transform a stock configured bike.

I talked to the seller about it. He told me about it's history and how it was built for a show (something like Autorama, or World of Wheels? my memory), in San Diego in late 69? For such a nice relic, it was being offered at a bargain price. Later I saw a photo of it on a blog somewhere.


Scott cleaned it up and changed the seat. It had a funky but similar brown seat when unearthed.

Then Big Scott of Cycle Zombies emailed me.

Howdy Chris,
After seeing Stretch's blog (nostalgia on wheels), and seeing the pics of all the dressers, I read your comment that you just posted a bunch. Well I just sold a 1970 FLH custom that was built by the owner of El Cajon Harley, Chuck Holinda. Anyway, he took a brand new bike in late 1969 (first year alternator motor), tore it down completely and chromed it all! Then he molded the tank, frame etc. with raised molded flames! Really cool! By the way only has 3 miles on it! Here is a few pics that you might want to add to your blog. Thanks, Big Scott czombieblog.com

The shocking truth! This explained the bike's unused appearance.


Everything mechanical was given a dip of the bright stuff!

Since my memory was foggy I emailed Scott for the show infomation.

Scott replied, "I don't have a lot of info on the shows it was in. There was one show in '71 where it took 3rd place. Randy Smith and Bob Clark of Street Chopper were both judges but, thats all I know".

Molded flames to raise the judges eyes.

Scott added, "The bike cleaned up amazing, a little bit of chrome flaking off the aluminum heads and covers. Anyway, post what you want"

Later, I ran into Scott at the Long Beach swap and he told me how after flushing the tanks and some proper prep it fired right up and ran like new. It was then traded for a nice original '58. It's current owner has stripped and is storing the bags, changed the seat, put apes on it, and now rides the hell out it!

Photos: Big Scott. Re-imaged/Photoshoped: CK.

Attack of the Dressers

Tony and Toni looking sharp

Go check this out:
http://www.nostalgiaonwheels.blogspot.com/

He just posted some unreal photos from a dresser road trip circa 1965. The colors and styles will blow your lid.

Top n' Tails

TOP

Class act. It's amazing what a set of handlebars can do. That, and the small headlight starts to move it from a bob to a chop. I found this image long before all these blogs got started. Where?, I don't know.

TAILS

This should have made the Dresser post. There's a lot going on here. Lights are one thing but, when guys start adding those chrome balls everywhere? They must weigh at least a pound each. Who cares when your dragging a 200 lb. bumper? Ahhh, the good old days, when you could put a bike in the trunk. Don't remember where I grabbed this beauty.