Have you ever been to an event and all of sudden the room get’s silent, the people disappear, and a bright light hits you in the eyes? This happened to me the other day.
I was stumbling through the Whitewall Nationals and this blue baby stopped me dead in my tracks. This is exactly what I was looking for and who’d a think that it would be at a warehouse along the ports in L.A. Harbor. As I was stuck in a glorious limbo, out of the corner of my eye, I see a friendly character come over to me. Manuel Muller remembered meeting Billy and I one time at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Since then, I kept hearing his name in the custom motorcycle circles.
Not sure who said what first but the conversation soon turned to I need to feature this bike in the next Special Print Edition of Blacktop Magazine. Then Manuel started telling me the back–story on the bike.
The original owner purchased the 1967 Triumph TR6 in 1967 and right away, began to chop it up. It was entered in the 1969 Detroit Autorama where it won Best-Of-Show. He sat on the bike for many years then passed away. His son kept the bike and didn’t do anything with it. He passed away in 2012 and Manuel Muller picked up the really rough carcass of sitting for over 40 years. Looking at photos and artifacts about the bike, Muller was able to restore the bike to it’s original glory. Only a few parts are new on the bike, as the rest was plated, polished and painted to the best of it’s recolection.
Recently a returning customer of Manuel’s; Daniel Ross had to have this bike. A little negotiation and Daniel has been riding this bike almost daily.
You may notice some cracks in the backbone just in front of the seat. Those were caused by a driver backing up in front of him. Fortunately the damage was minor as Daniel was only going about 10mph when it happened. “It’s a badge of honor to show people this bike is a driver! I ride this thing almost every day!”
I’m still floored at this incredible machine. Oh, then Manuel says you have to see my van. “It may not be appropriate for your publication”. I ask why and he replies, it’s named: “The Glory Hole”.
We walk outside in the Alley of Kustoms and find his van parked next to the food trucks. A work in progress, Manuel sprayed the blue outside of his shop just days ago. Panels of murals will be applied later. Looks like it has some great bones.
We had to get the bike out of the “un-authorized area” and back in the show for more people to enjoy.
BTW, Manuel was tasked with organizing the Cycle-O-Rama display of custom bikes.
Story/Photos: Tony Colombini, Model: Sarah Woods