you probably haven't seen this.....

Of course our famous 5 wheeler Big Twin was in Street Chopper numerous times and on the cover of our catalog and as trading card. This small article though is rare as most people are not aware of it.....from the September 1970 issue of Hot Rod magazine......

AEE blue Aris lights

UPDATE THESE JUST SOLD FOR $740 ON Ebay!!!! Less than 20 bucks new.
Here is some shots of the AEE blue Aris lights. They were unique due to the blue interior color. Repop's are being made of the regular Aris light but they are much thicker than the Aris light of the 60's-70's. Interesting light but not every chopper looks right with these on them.

My dad

Six years ago yesterday my dad died. Fell over dead at 83 in the kitchen. He gave me one last shot, he landed right in front of the liquor cabinet so I couldn't get to it ! He had been a hard rock miner, logger, carpenter and construction worker starting at the young age of 14 in a copper mine. Yeah, I had to grow up tough, he was a serious task master. We never had any motorcycles at home when I was growing up until I was 14 when he bought a used Honda 160, then a 350. Which he wrecked and quit riding. Even though dad loved them and had a bunch before I was born, he understood that he was responsible to the family first and there was no money for a motorcycle.
He was one of the early hot rodders back in the day in SoCal. Hung out with the Christman Brothers and the like in Compton and Bell and Maywood. Gave it up for the family. I did get to see a bit of it though. He had a 34 Ford that was chopped and channeled with a Merc flathead in it for a work car for a while. I got to run to the end of the block and ride on the running boards every day when he came home. So cool even then. I have a picture of him holding me at about a year old sitting on an Indian. He said it wasn't his but he had ridden it, said his favorite bike was a 4 cylinder Henderson he owned. I miss him and wish he could share in some of the fun stuff I'm doing now. We had life long plans to build a hot rod together and never did it. To those of you talking to your kids about projects.....go do it now. Adios Pops.

Duane Ballard's Funkenstein

This is Duane's gorgeous Honda 750 funkenstein. Duane is well known for his killer leather work but I like his builder skills! I like this one in particular as that is an AEE Choppers frame built by our Dave Brackett underneath Duane's work. I was struck by the paint as the Honda 750 that AEE did was white with green back in 1972 (see below). Duane also built the super cool Pink Taco which was on the cover of Street Chopper with Duane wearing an AEE Choppers t-shirt. Our compliments to Duane. Want a sweet seat or some custom leather work? Then get a hold of Duane at:
Duane Ballard Custom Leather
http://www.dbcustomleather.com
http://dbcustomleather.wordpress.com/
603-781-7505

Brown AEE seat

This seat is on Ebay and Craigslist right now. I've said it before but it bears repeating...when we came out with these most of us about puked. It was even worse than the one's we did with blue denim which we didn't think was possible. I've seen a few choppers that a brown seat looked OK on but they are few and far between. I do not know what this seat fits in particular but it sure is strange looking.  I hope the seller does well with it but I'm not looking to add it to my AEE collection unless someone has one they want to donate. I seriously doubt I'll ever find one of the denim seats as they just could not take the wear like Naugahyde could. I am impressed that the AEE part tag is still on it. I've found a few things with them still on and even a few parts in the original bag. And now some brown AEE goodness.....

AEE Honda 750 frame

Last night I picked up this frame from a nice guy named Cameron in Sebatopol, CA which isn't far from AEE world headquarters here in Napa, CA. He got this frame from a guy that was going to build a chopper......and thought this was for a Harley! Cameron has other projects going on including hot rodding a 73 Duster (that he has owned since he was 15) so he never got to the chopper build. Like all of us time and money got in the way. the frame has a few holes here and there that will need filled but otherwise is in great shape. One interesting thing that got added along the way is very well done fork stops. They are round tube angled out from the neck with rubber bumpers on them. Not sure if I will keep them but they are very well done. I was lucky to get this for a very special build that will get under as soon as my Sportster project is complete. This one will be for my youngest son Devin, a father and son build.

visits to all three AEE Chopper locations as they are today

This weekend I got this great email and pictures from a wonderful reader named Art Holling:

Brent
I read on the AEE website that you suggested looking up the the old AEE locations on Google. After looking them up I decided to go visit them. I thought it would be cool for my springer to return to where it was made. My bike was built in 1970 so I don't know if it was made in Anaheim or Placentia. I believe that was the year AEE moved from Anaheim to Placentia.
I rode my 1960 Panhead and my friend Jeff Mellon rode his 1947 Indian chopper. Jeff has owned his Indian since 1974. I rode from my house in Corona to Jeff's in Chino. We left from there and rode thru Carbon Canyon to the Placentia location at 730 Monroe Way. Pacific Metal Cutting is in the building now. Jeff found a date nail in the telephone pole in front of the building dated 1970 so the building must have been new when AEE moved there. Then it was a short ride to the Anaheim location at 1420 N Burton Place. Santa Ana Wheel is in the building now. There is a new " Gentleman's Club" next door. Good thing that wasn't there when AEE was at that location. I had been to both locations with friends that were building Choppers years ago. I had never been to the Buena Park location, this was my first time. It was located at 7931 Whitaker St. A Quick photo and we were on our way. Hope you enjoy the pictures.  Also Jeff and I signed up for the Molly ride in April. We wouldn't have known about it without the AEE Website. Thanks Again.
 Art Holling 

Art, your springer was made at the Anaheim location, we moved over to Placentia in early 71. By the way the front door on Burton Place was behind that green steel bar gate. Across the street at that time was Fluidmaster and next door was empty lots. Also if you watch the clip of Tom on the Corvair trike he pulls in to the Whitaker shop. Thanks so much for the story, visit and pictures! 

Street Chopper ad

filling this out would have gotten you.....four issues in 1969. It wasn't until 1970 that Street Chopper went monthly. In 1969 they were so busy they just couldn't get more issues put out! this picture of Tom and Rose on Mindbender eventually became a poster sold at AEE....which I have in the AEE archives!

Ride for Molly 2012

Dave Brackett kindly forwarded this to me. It is an event to honor Molly the famous painter of all of the AEE bikes and so much more. Molly passed on a couple years ago and so this ride was started in his honor:

Everything has now been finalized for the 2nd Annual "Ride On Molly" event and now it's time for you to sign up and plan on joining other friends of Molly's as we pay tribute in memory of this fantastic man.  For those that were able to attend last years event, the venue (Temecula Creek Inn) is the same and we have a different route but equally great ride planned.

The website shown below will provide all the pertinent information and allow you to make reservations to join us, or if your schedule does not allow, you may make a donation pledge directly via the website.  The donation is optional, however ALL proceeds will benefit Molly's daughter, Brooke, by going directly to a college fund set up to ensure she receives a quality education, and at the same time, demonstrate to her that Molly was loved by so many people.  As a point of reference, last years donations ranged from $50 per person to a very generous donation of $2500.  If you can donate, please do so, but in any case, join us to remember Molly and ensure his legacy lives on.  Cars and motorcycles are welcome to join the day trip, or just come and enjoy the evening festivities to honor Molly.

The ride date and formal activities are set for Saturday, April 28th and many of us will be arriving on Friday 27th and departing on Sunday 29th.

The raffle prizes were a big hit last year and brought in an additional $800 to the college fund.  This year we would like to expand the prize giveaway, so if any of you have any donations you can make, please respond to this email and we will make sure it is included in the nights activities.  So clean out those personal or corporate cabinets and share with us any gifts you can provide.  Special recognition will be made for the "most innovative" and "most significant" gifts.

Hello friends of Molly.

Everything has now been finalized for the 2nd Annual "Ride On Molly" event and now it's time for you to sign up and plan on joining other friends of Molly's as we pay tribute in memory of this fantastic man.  For those that were able to attend last years event, the venue (Temecula Creek Inn) is the same and we have a different route but equally great ride planned.

The website shown below will provide all the pertinent information and allow you to make reservations to join us, or if your schedule does not allow, you may make a donation pledge directly via the website.  The donation is optional, however ALL proceeds will benefit Molly's daughter, Brooke, by going directly to a college fund set up to ensure she receives a quality education, and at the same time, demonstrate to her that Molly was loved by so many people.  As a point of reference, last years donations ranged from $50 per person to a very generous donation of $2500.  If you can donate, please do so, but in any case, join us to remember Molly and ensure his legacy lives on.  Cars and motorcycles are welcome to join the day trip, or just come and enjoy the evening festivities to honor Molly.

The ride date and formal activities are set for Saturday, April 28th and many of us will be arriving on Friday 27th and departing on Sunday 29th.

The raffle prizes were a big hit last year and brought in an additional $800 to the college fund.  This year we would like to expand the prize giveaway, so if any of you have any donations you can make, please respond to this email and we will make sure it is included in the nights activities.  So clean out those personal or corporate cabinets and share with us any gifts you can provide.  Special recognition will be made for the "most innovative" and "most significant" gifts.

 

http://www.etouches.com/mollyride2012