A CHOPPER FROM THE SIXTIES!!

MYSTERY PANHEAD FROM 1963 

By Buck Lovell    photos by WWW.lovellphoto.com

I photographed this magnificent example of an original old school chopper in the early 1990’s at a shop in North Hollywood run by a Hell’s Angel named NZ. NZ has since returned to New Zealand probably fed up with the Los Angeles area traffic. At the time I didn’t have the forethought to get a history of the bike as I was only concerned with the technical features.

What makes this bike extra interesting is not only the fact that it’s a genuine non restored chopper from the mid 1960’s, but the unusual number boss designation. The number boss reads simply “Sonny B.” While in a phone conversation with Sonny Barger, he was asked if the bike could have been built by him, but Sonny couldn’t recall if he’d built such a bike. Maybe NZ will read this article and contact us with some more information. For you guys who have been riding for since the 1960’s and 1970’s the bike will be all too familiar. Very little bolt on goodies, very little left of the original (OEM) equipment. Enjoy the view! Drink some Wyoming Whiskey, and smoke a cigar or two!