What do you get when you have someone who loves the design of classic cars and then uses this passion as an inspiration to design and build a custom motorcycle? Well, if that person is as talented as Bill Kellogg, you get the best of both worlds. Recently, Brian Jackson and the crew from Corbin's Ride On had the chance to see Bill's latest creation: a custom bike that brings the great design of a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr to two wheels. But, before we get to this marvelous bike, let's learn a bit about the man who created it and how his inspiration came to be.

Bill told Brian that his love of classic auto design came from his father. According to Bill, his father was always buying old cars, repairing them, and then selling them. Consequently, Bill worked with his father on many of these vintage rides and fell victim to their beauty and styling. Finally, he turned a hobby into a career as he became an auto body specialist! After working at General Motors for five years, Bill opened his own shop, and soon many of his friends were bringing motorcycles to his door. One day, a friend told him that he had a 1971 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide that he was going to have crushed and made into a piece of art. Bill offered to purchase the bike and thank goodness, his friend sold the bike to him!

After rescuing the bike, Bill searched his past for the inspiration to do something unique, and he recalled the lines of a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr that his father had once owned. Ultimately, he took this "art deco memory" and made it into a reality. Using a 1936 Lincoln fender light and Lincoln taillights were the start in keeping the "tear drop" look that would transform to the bike. Bill also used a Lincoln headlight for the bike, and he also attached the Lincoln Zephyr fender emblems to the gas tank. After three and one-half months the project was complete and the results were so impressive that the bike won 1 st Place in the Custom Restoration category at the Detroit Autorama!

Brian then asked Bill what was next on the list of bikes to build. Bill told him that he would continue to design bikes using the themes of classic cars. In fact, he is thinking of producing a Lincoln Zephyr kit bike. Bill finished his conversation with Brian emphasizing how much he likes the cosmetic aspect of custom bike building. According to Bill, "impact is inspiration." When one has the ability to combine such legendary styles in transportation, the results speak for themselves.

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