The BDN December issue story about Elvis Presley’s historic volume purchase of Triumph motorcycles was indeed a major news item when, way back in 1970, I was working for Norton Villiers Corporation in Long Beach, California.
The most popular version was how, one fine sunny morning, while Elvis was driving – or, more likely, being driven – along Santa Monica Boulevard on his way to the film studio, he spotted a brand-spanking new Triumph Bonneville on the forecourt of Robertson Cycles, Triumph’s official dealer for Hollywood and that part of Los Angeles.
The story goes that he either arranged its immediate purchase during a brief stopover or, having noticed this gleaming machine, he returned during his lunch break, snapping it up without listening to any sales spiel or taking a test ride. The tale then continued that upon returning the bike to the ranch where he resided, he was so impressed that he returned to Robertson’s the following day and bought a whole bunch of Bonneville’s for his buddies, a.k.a. “The Nashville Mafia”. The actual number of bikes in this spectacular sale usually depended upon who was telling the tale. In 1971, for instance, a Triumph dealer in Texas told me it was a dozen bikes, which was the highest number I ever heard attributed. I duly met Bill Roberston Jr in early 1972, so you can imagine at least one of the matters we discussed. If memory’s correct, Bill stated that Presley’s subsequent buy was for four new Triumphs.
I’d like to conclude with some political news not involving Triumph but with yet another close link to pop music. I just learned that, for the next election, the Green Party will be entering a candidate who is an active rock-and-roll singer. Oh, and this minstrel’s name is Elvis Parsley!
Mike Jackson, Romsey, Hampshire