ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #8

This month's winner of the Essential Buyer's Guide of his choice is Gabe Gibbany from Harrison, Arkansas USA. Gabe wins a copy of Harley-Davidson Big Twins - The Essential Buyer's Guide for sending us these pictures of his 1949 Harley Pan-Shovel Boneyard Chopper. Please keep your entries coming in, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

Here's proof that you can build a classy vintage chopper with virtually all used parts hustled up from locals and swap meet finds ...

After selling my 1937 80" ULH Flathead, I was on the search for my next project. I started gathering up some miscellaneous parts for the vision in my head. I knew I was looking for a Pan-Shovel for this build. The only problem was finding one in my price range. The Chopper Gods do exist because I was offered a 49 Pan-Shovel project while pumping gas. Now I was set.

I brought her home and started the total dis-assembly. I completely rebuilt the engine with new bearings, Jim's crank pins and lifters, 9:1 Weisco pistons, Andrews J grind cam and S&S carb. The girder front-end was a local swap meet find and the dual discs on front really help it stop! The engine is linked to a 1936 HD tranny via BDL belt drive in a custom primary cover. The frame is a 1951 HD Wishbone.

I used a Baas Metalcraft seat pan and covered it with a butchered set of saddlebags. All work was done by myself in a backyard shack except the paint, which was courtesy of a good friend, Jim Crabb.

I am currently building a 1918 Harley T, and we are finishing up the wife's 56 Panhead and her "secret" chopper project.
Gabe Gibbany

Gabe selected Harley-Davidson Big Twins – The Essential Buyer’s Guide by Peter Henshaw as his prize!

Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from the author’s years of Harley-Davidson ownership, learn how to spot a bad bike quickly, and how to assess a promising one like a professional. Get the right bike at the right price!
More info.



Do you have an unusual car/motorcycle with a story to tell?
We want to see it! Send photos & description to prize@veloce.co.uk
We will pick one a month, and any we feature will win an Essential Buyer's Guide (worth £9.99 / $19.95) of your choice.
Click below to browse the whole series.

ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #2

This month we have a reader entry from Chris Gibbany (Arkansas USA) who sent us these pictures and description of her awesome looking customised 1981 Harley Ironhead Sportster. We love custom motorcycles here at Veloce! She won an Essential Buyer's Guide book of her choice. Please keep your entries coming in, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

My name is Chris Gibbany and my husband and I built my 1981 Harley Ironhead Sportster. My goal was simple: I wanted a really cool looking bike, something you didn't see every day. I also wanted something that didn't scream to the world "I am owned and ridden by a woman." So I came up with the design for what I call a "Billy Bike". I had an idea in my head but had never seen a bike in any magazine or in person of exactly what I wanted. The challenge was relaying the information to my husband, Gabe. I had to describe in detail exactly what I wanted without exactly knowing how to tell my him what I wanted. It was definitely a lesson in communication. In the end, I ended up with the bike I'd dreamed of. I love the bike's appearance most of all. I love the way it looks from all angles. I just love how my ideas all came together, and that is really what building a nice-looking bike is all about — making it flow and all work together. I travel everywhere on it when the weather's nice. I'll take it to town with a backpack on and get a few groceries. For some reason no one expects me to get on the bike and ride off. My Billy Bike has gotten good reaction from judges, too. At the first show in which it debuted, it won Best of Show. In 2010 it took Best of Show/ People's Choice awards at five of six shows. We have been married for nine years and have been building bikes together for almost six. Each bike is designed and assembled in secret, and no one sees them until the project is complete. It's really more of a hobby, but we usually have two or three for sale. Eventually we'd like to do this as full time business. We are currently building my '56 Panhead in our living room and I also just got another "secret" project I am working on. My husband just got a 1949 Panhead built that he is riding. I breed hedgehogs for a living and here is my website.

Chris selected BSA 500 & 650 Twins - The Essential Buyer's Guide by Peter Henshaw as her prize!

STOP! Don’t buy a BSA Twin without buying this book first!
Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from the author’s years of experience, learn how to spot a bad BSA Twin quickly and how to assess a promising one like a true professional. Get the right bike at the right price!
More info.


Do you have an unusual car/motorcycle with a story to tell?
We want to see it! Send photos & description to prize@veloce.co.uk
We will pick one a month, and any we feature will win an Essential Buyer's Guide (worth £9.99 / $19.95) of your choice.
Click below to browse the whole series.