Ever wonder who created and built the Easy Rider chopper Capt America? We know who made it famous, and who restored them, and who made millions from them.... but who created it? Ben Hardy

Peter Fonda, the producer of Easy Rider, hired Cliff Vaughs to coordinate the motorcycles for the film, and Cliff tapped Ben Hardy for the actual construction of the machines. Peter and Cliff both worked on the design of the bike. A drawing here, a sketch there, and then a final agreement to make it like this.

The whole story has been told on the Vintagent blog, and I can't add anything but increased awareness of all the research that's already done there on the story of the Capt America chopper
http://thevintagent.blogspot.fi/search?q=captain+america

Ain't it sorta odd that the most instantly recognizable vehicles were made by guys that aren't known for making more things? The Deuce Coupe the Beach Boys used on the cover of their album, and the Easy Rider chopper Peter Fonda rode.

Well, I insist that the right guys get the credit and respect they deserve. That's what they earned. I think business people and Hollywood types often try and grab undeserved credit, what ever they can do to get ahead... but I believe car guys are focused on the quality of something, and they want to know who to credit for that quality.

If it's speed parts, they want to know how made it. If it's a fast car, car guys want people to know who made it. If it's a beautiful car design, or a sweet paint job, we give the artist or designer the credit and respect. Simply because it's the right thing to do, and there's respect to be given, so we do that.

So, that's why it's important to me to post who did what, who made a thing, and who should get credit and fame for what they've done. Hell, that's pretty much what I do all the time.... tell you who painted, sculpted, built, or collected... or who won a race.

So today, it's Ben Hardy's day of appreciation.

video from Jesse James’ ‘History of the Chopper’ TV series

you can even get more in depth on the Capt America chopper in the book:

He didn’t get the recognition he deserved for those bikes, partly because the whole crew was fired when Columbia Pictures took over production, and Ben and Cliff’s payout/signoff included a clause keeping them off the film’s credits.

Publications like Ed Roth’s ‘Choppers Magazine’ explored Cliff’s role in ‘Easy Rider’ from 1968 onwards, but both Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper at various times claimed credit for building those bikes, and Dan Haggerty took credit too.

http://thevintagent.blogspot.fi/2016/07/cliff-vaughs-rest-easy.html

Michael Eisenberg, a Los Angeles collector of famous motorcycles, owns a few incredible motorbikes.

He owned one of the Captain America bikes (there are more than 2, Dan Haggerty restored and sold them after Easy Rider)

Eisenberg is well-versed in the memorabilia business. He supplied many of the motorcycles that decorate the Planet Hollywood restaurants, and once co-owned a Los Angeles motorcycle-themed restaurant with Fonda and “Easy Rider” co-star Dennis Hopper

Haggerty on the other hand, had a lot of problems after his popular tv show Grizzly Adams, even sold cocaine to undercover cops in 1988, and did 10 days in jail for tax evasion in 1985.
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-uneasy-riders-20141017-story.html


Michael Eisenberg, sits on the customized Captain America chopper Peter Fonda rode in “Easy Rider”

The gleaming stars-and-stripes panhead chopper with chromed hardtail frame is accompanied by three letters of authenticity. One is signed by the National Motorcycle Museum, where it was displayed for 12 years. Another is from Fonda and a third from Haggerty.
http://www.pressherald.com/2014/09/17/easy-rider-bike-going-to-auction/

He has owned a few Steve McQueen motorcycles too, though I can't figure out why he buys and sells them. Just for profit I suppose, damn shame

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/cars-512717-mcqueen-harley.html

Eisenberg, whose day job is selling high-end properties for Keller Williams in Beverly Hills, bought his first bit of McQueen memorabilia — a motorcycle that the actor owned and rode — 25 years ago and has watched it steadily increase in value. Actually, he’s watched it as it sits in his living room, much to his wife’s chagrin

Since then, he's bought and sold Steve McQueen's sunglasses, watch, and Chevy truck.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/steve-mcqueen-memorabilia_n_2432903.html

while watching a video on a WW2 collection of jeeps and half tracks and tanks, for a moment this was on screen, and I thought, "this looks familiar", and you know how some things just stick in your head?

The dragon motorcycle out of Brooklyn in the 60's or 70s... so I dug around and bingo: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2016/04/mel-bernstien-bellmore-long-island.html

at the one minute mark of 

So, Mel moved to Colorado and struck it rich in a gun range and gun sales. Good for him.