Fonzie’s Motorcycle Is For Sale
Happy Days character Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli’s (aka Fonzie, The Fonz, or Fonz) motorcycle is going up for auction.
The bike, a 1949 Triumph Trophy TR5 Scrambler, is currently owned by motorcycle collector Marshall Ehlers who acquired the motorcycle from Hollywood stuntman Bud Ekins, a successful motocross rider turned motorcycle dealer, collector, stunt rider and stunt coordinator who customized the bike for the Happy Days producers. Ekins was also famous for jumping the barbed wire fence in “The Great Escape” where he acted as stunt double for his motorcycle riding friend, Steve McQueen riding a disguised Triumph TR6 Trophy 650. Ekins also drove the Ford Mustang 390 GT in Bullitt.
The motorcycle, according to the auctioneer, will need extensive work and is not currently in running condition.
Funnily, the bike wasn’t even driven by Henry Winkler during the shows run – he was pushed by crew members. (He did drive it once for a shot in the opening credits – he fell off…) In an interview from a 2000 issue of Cycle World “The Fonz” was quoted as saying, “I am scared to death of motorcycles. That’s how good an actor I am.”
Also interesting was the fact that the original bike used by Fonzie was a Harley-Davidson but, since he wouldn’t ride it was replaced by the Triumph as it was lighter and thus easier for the stage hands to push.
Pre-auction estimates range from $60,000 – $90,000 and is the only motorcycle from the show still in existence – “The Fonz” was shown at various times with 4 different bikes.
The sale will take place on November 12, 2011 at the Bonhams Classic California Sale in Los Angeles, CA.
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The Fonz jumps 14 garbage cans on Happy Days