Another AEE mystery solved-the shock springer

I ran across some picture sin the January 1971 issue of Street Chopper that somehow had escaped me all these years. I sent them to both Dave and Lenny and here is what they said.

From Lenny: Yeah, I vaguely recall it but don't remember ever selling one.

From Dave (edited by me) :After we moved to Burton Way, and Big Twin was done, I was spending most of my time on the road, working with vendors.I hired this guy from the aerospace industry to be our designer .  Unfortunately he wasn't sharp about cost or ease of manufacturing, etc..  This was his baby and it had too many pieces, too much welding, too much pressure on top plate, etc. We could not build it for the sales price. 

So one was built and none ever sold....even if it didn't work right it sure would be fun to have!

AEE footpegs

Ran across these pictures on Ebay...not very good pics but these are the real deal, AEE machined foot pegs...4 3/4" long and 3/8-24 thread....you can see our high quality chrome even 40 years later looks pretty darn good. I have some of these (un chromed) so thought I'd share that these are available right now on Ebay.

Update

Many issues cutting in to AEE and Blog time.....no new news on the Corvair Trike yet....I do have some info coming on the famous Magnuson blower that AEE ran as a prototype for Magnuson on our Sportster Kit Bike.......and just for the followers of AEE a sneek peak at an on-going project.......UPDATE: 1/22 just heard from DAVE and she lit off on first try, the beast is loose folks. A big special day for us. Couldn't have done it without the magician Dave Brackett.

Some new info on the Corvair Trike!

Just had a great conversation with Scott Russell of Motosport Hillsboro in Oregon. He bought AEE Choppers Corvair Trike in about 2000 not knowing what it was at that time. he bought it as it had some Halibrand mags on it that he was interested in. On getting the trike home he wondered why he had bought it as it was in very rough shape, all there, but rough. Not long after he accidentally ran across the article about building the trike in Cycle Guide (this was prior to Street Chopper existing). Suddenly he realized what he had. A few years went by and he needed to cut his inventory of vehicles and such so he listed it on Ebay. A flurry of activity followed and he pulled the ad to rethink things a bit. Later an offer got made to him and he accepted it and turned the trike over in Medford,OR to the son of the buyer. The trike was headed to the LA area. I made contact once with someone claiming they had the trike in SoCal but they never responded to my emails.
So it sounds to me that the trike may still be out there hiding once again. We need to beat the bushes and find this piece of history so we can get it on the road again....maybe! Scott kindly is searching for any photos or further information he may have and will share it with us all. Meanwhile stop by his website or dealership:

http://www.motosporthillsboro.com/

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I'll try to get more AEE posts in this year than last....last year wasn' t real kind to me. Heck, I had another death in the family in December! So we will all hope for a better and brighter new year!

and now a Big Twin restoration update...

Here are some shots of Big Twin reunited with it's original custom girder front end. Big Twin was originally built with a springer front end but the weight of the 5 wheeler became too much so Dave Brackett came up with this girder instead. Fortunately the girder had stayed with Big Twin all these years though a different front end (an abortion if there ever was one) was on it when found. Below is also a picture of a fully re-chromed Big Twin engine ready for install some day soon. You can follow the build on the Bones Legacy Facebook page. Bones Legacy is the builder in Las Vegas who is doing the restoration of Big Twin....check them out!

Dave Brackett's newest creation is on the loose!

Here is the latest from Dave Brackett engineer and designer at AEE Choppers. It's called 8STR8 for the straight 8 engine (2 -4cylinder Suzuki motors). Go read all about it and see more pictures of this most inventive guy's newest (also see more of Dave's creations) at:

http://www.bikerhotline.com/guestcolumnists/dbrackett/

I GIVE YOU 8STR8  !!!!

Wild Rose

Here is a shot of Rose McMullen (prior to marrying Tom) racing her Vette...rare shot.....she also drove Tom's 32 many times street racing as she was a very good driver.....pretty good company sharing the page with Stone, Woods and Cook!

Tom's 32 before he owned it

Here is actor Nick Adams of the TV series "The Rebel" with what would be come Tom McMullen's flamed 32......

One Day's work with Dave Brackett of AEE fame

Went up to Dave's place this past weekend...very long drive both ways but so worth it. In the picture is what we put together in one day.....nearly all original AEE parts...frame (by Dave), sissy bar, seats, shift peg, mirror, risers, light bracket, square glide front end , mini drum (not on bike in pic). I swear another day or two and it would have been running! Amazing to work with Dave again and see what is possible in a short amount of time.

McMullen roadster going up for sale and here is video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8pfyEGmih4&feature=youtube_gdata

Fans of Tom and his 32 will love this......

AEE girder going up for sale...MEGA RARE!

I've decided to let my AEE girder go. I'll be putting it up on Ebay in a day or two. It's very rare and in great condition, so narrow and thin its hard to believe. As always AEE went its own way, a single leg girder. another amazing piece designed by Dave Brackett.
...be on the look out and spread the word...I need the money! Take a look:

sorry!

sorry for no posts, dealing with a serious family issue. I'll be back soon with more AEE posts and pictures, stuff you have never seen before!

Avionic Structures

One of the most important vendors AEE used way back in the day was Avionic Structures of Anaheim. They made and bent many of our tubing items for us to our design and specification. I also believe they did some of our flame cutting work too. At any rate they were a very important vendor of raw pieces to us. Dave Brackett was the guy that found them and worked with them to produce our parts. I recently tried to run down the owner and see if he had any AEE plans left and sadly I was bit late on the draw as the owner shut down in 2010 and all the records and tooling are gone.

All manufacturers use suppliers and vendors to some extent. There is one frame shop right now making a great many of the finished frames that others are selling under their own name as if it was their part. AEE had some items we did not make but they did not get relabeled by us as our part with one or two minor instances. If it was ours and we made the finished product we said so.

I no sooner posted this and Dave chimed in with this:

Brent, the owner of Avionics Structures  and I graduated high school together, that is why I went to him for help. He had a great fab shop. We talk every couple months.

Dave

Cool stuff!

Big Twin link

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.139664372818040.26911.136657089785435&type=1

follow along as the guys at Bones Legacy restore this iconic AEE Choppers 5 wheeler......

AEE Weber manifold

Here are some shots of a manifold that showed up on Ebay. The early versions of these that we sold did not have the AEE logo on them. I'm pretty sure we were originally getting them from Magnuson as he is the guy that came up with the Weber to Ironhead/Shovelhead manifold. Someone wants this bad as they have a bid on it WAY too high for its value.

I'm back and Paul JR. knows nothing!

Just got back from a 90 mile backpack in the High Sierras so I will post and catch up here soon.

Meanwhile I got this from Paul at Bones Legacy Choppers:

I was flicking through the tv today,,OCC was on ,Jr, was building a 5 wheel trike,,he claimed it was the only one in the world ever built,  i cant believe what an idiot he is,, the BIG TWIN is so well known,,i cant believe they aired what he said.

BIG TWIN was the first 5 wheeler (and twin engined auto trans)!!! Kid doesn't know his chopper history at all.

Panhead covers for sale

As promised here is a link to the AEE panhead covers for sale:

 Bornlosermc.blogspot.com

AEE Panhead covers

Our buddy Panhead Dave sent us these photos of some AEE panhead covers he may be selling. You don't see these very often and this set is in great shape. If I hear where he will be selling them I'll try to post it. Meanwhile enjoy some more AEE goodness.....

BIG TWIN UPDATE

Here is the latest: The original girder front end designed and built by Dave Brackett (just like the rest of Big Twin) has been mounted back up to it for the first time in years. Pictures aren't real clear but enjoy...its slowly coming together at Bones Legacy in Las Vegas.