Fonzie's Triumph

There has been quite a buzz lately about the Fonz's bike being sold at auction this coming November.  Cycle World magazine in their November 2011 issue devotes a full page to the event, and wire services across the country have picked up the story.  I am going to set the record straight regarding the bike going up for auction.  Update: the bike did not sell at auction.  I assume that it failed to make the reserve.

The bike for sale is a 1949 Triumph TR5 that was once owned by the famous Bud Ekins (who did supply motorcycles to the entertainment industry including the Happy Days sitcom).  This is the bike in the photo at the bottom of the page.  There was a 1949 or 1950 TR5 used in factory "still" photo shoots for advertising purposes.  However, and this is important.....the actual bike that Henry Winkler usually rode in the series was a later model (1951-1954) Triumph TR5 (rumoured to be a 1952 which I have recently confirmed).  The most obvious difference between the 1949/50 models (very rare and desirable in their own right) and later models (1951-54) is the square cylinder barrel, forward exiting exhaust pipes and unique cylinder head used only in 1949 and 1950.  All later models utilized the round "close pitch" cylinder barrel, splayed exhaust pipes, along with matching cylinder head.  This is the tell-tale proof in identifying the rare 1949/50 models from the more common 1951-1954 models. 

Starting with Season Four, the opening credits clearly show Henry Winkler riding the later model , 1952 TR5.  I have included several photos that prove this point.  It could very well be that the bike going up for auction was the same bike used in the still photographs.....but the point is that the bike the "Fonz" normally rode in the series was the "52.

I have notified Cycle World about this discrepancy (no response) and Bonham's Auction (who is conducting the sale).  Bonham's has addressed my concerns at length and have decided to market the 1949 "as the last remaining Triumph used in the series" as they agree that there were several bikes used and that this is probably the only/last one that is actually attainable.  The 1947 Harley Davidson Knucklehead that was used in Season One only (which I have built a replica of) has apparently been restored to it's original condition and is in a museum, and the c1952 TR5 (which is the one Henry Winkler is seen riding) was sold off by Bud Ekins years ago to an unknown buyer through a now defunct auction house.  Where is this bike now?  It still exists.  I have personal knowledge of this and have been in contact with the owner (who has had it since the early 90's).  There was at least one later model "oil in frame" model used in filming but this bike is of no significance.  Bonham's has confirmed through Henry Winkler's agent that the 1949 going up for sale was used in the series at one time.

A small note regarding the 1952 TR5.  This bike was unique in it's own right as it did not have the proper close pitch alloy top end installed.  At some point, before it was used in the series, it appears that the top end (cylinder and head) was replaced by an earlier 5T (500cc Speed Twin), early T100 (500cc Tiger), 6T (650cc Thunderbird), or an early 50's T110 (650cc Tiger) assembly painted silver.  These particular Triumphs used the wider pitch cast iron cylinder and head, clearly evident (as being installed in the 1952) in numerous photos.  Because these model's components were very similar in appearance it is difficult to pinpoint exactly which top end was used but I suspect from other tell-tale signs that it might have been the 6T top end that was used as a replacement for the correct close pitch alloy 500cc pieces.  One clue is that the 1952 bike utilized a SU Type MC2 carb (TR5s came with the Amal 276) which was unique to the 52 and later 6T Thunderbird engines.  It stands to reason that when the close pitch alloy top end was removed, someone simply bolted on the complete 6T assembly (carb included).  This is one fact (among various others) that makes it particularly easy to authenticate the actual '52 that was used in the series.

Hopefully this brief discussion clears up a number of questions regarding the bikes that were used during this series.