"Chopper" Family Swaps "Eleanor" Cycle for Shelby Replica

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"Chopper" Family Swaps "Eleanor" Cycle for Shelby Replica
By Jeremy Rosenberg - cars.com

LAS VEGAS — Amidst a crush of cameras and a crowd that grew and grew, the unlikely television stars Paul Sr., Paul Jr. and Michael Teutal of Discovery Channel's "American Chopper" wowed the assembled throng by unveiling their newest motorcycle creation, this one named "Eleanor" and inspired by the famous Shelby-modified Ford Mustangs of the 1960s.

Paul Sr. of Discovery Channel's "American Chopper" reveals the Eleanor bike at the 2004 SEMA show.

The elongated cycle, presented at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show, was a gift for the Unique Performances group, Texas manufacturers of authentic Shelbys.

The pony people then returned the favor, backing up their own trailer and driving out a bright yellow Shelby GT 500E with thick black stripes. This powerful ride, a limited-edition replica of the 1967 Shelby model, boasts 725 horsepower and is now the property of Paul Sr.

Paul Sr. and Paul Jr.Teutal, the unscripted TV show's central characters, have enormous muscles. Senior has a white mustache that resembles an upside-down horseshoe. The family business is called Orange County Choppers, the name coming from their Orange County, New York — not California — home. Both men posed for photos on the bike and in the car.

A high level of pomp surrounded the event, along with the crowd's anticipation as the unveiling was delayed a few minutes. The roars and squeals of Fords scurrying around SEMA's Yokohama proving ground — a parking lot with cones — made a background soundscape. A pungent odor added to the gearhead vibe.

"It's a great day," said Gary Patterson of Shelby's public relations department. "You can smell the smoke from burning tires coming over the trailer."

Soon enough, Paul Jr. took the podium and yelled, "Fire it up, Dad."

All eyes then turned to the long Shelby trailer with Carroll Shelby's image painted on it. After a series of dramatic revs of the bike's engine, Paul Sr. rolled out onto an elevated lift. The lift descended, and the tattooed patriarch delivered his Eleanor. Shelby's wife hugged Paul Jr. Digital cameras were held high above heads. People applauded.

The Eleanor bike is chrome and painted in the gray-blue color associated with the Shelby GT 500E that played a central role in the year-2000 movie "Gone in Sixty Seconds." It has a patch of paint resembling a snake's skin, and affixed to the left handlebar is the Shelby GT 500E logo — a cobra with fangs spread and poised to strike.

When it was time for the delivery of his Mustang, the laconic Paul Sr. said the vehicle was "awesome."

A publicist asked if he would permit his children to drive the car.

"I don't think so," Teutal said, emphatically.

Parked nearby were a couple of similarly muscular rides. One was another chopper, red and chrome and autographed by the three Teutals. It stood close to driver Mike Ashley's drag racecar, named "Gone in 6.0 Seconds." A trophy sat on top, declaring, "World Champion, 2004, Mike Ashley, DRO/NMM Cup."

Not far away was a gray Carroll Shelby GT 500E Super Snake, priced at $159,000 and, like the day's special delivery, another 725-hp machine.

Copyright 2004 cars.com
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