Confederate Motors

Confederate Motorcycles, LLC.
Private
Industry Motorcycle
Founded 1991
Founder H. Matthew Chambers
Headquarters US
Key people
 Ernest Lee
Products FA-13 Combat Bomber, P-51 Combat Fighter, P-120 Fighter, B-120 Wraith, X-132 Hellcat
Owner Ernest Lee Capital LLC
Website confederate.com

Confederate Motorcycles is an American manufacturer of exotic street motorcycles. Confederate Motors Inc. was founded in 1991 by trial lawyer H. Matthew Chambers, as an initiative seeking "enlightened design through true American inspiration." In 2017, Confederate Motors announced plans to rename itself to Curtiss Motorcycles Inc. and switch to all-electric motorcycles with a partnership with Zero Motorcycles.[1][2] The Warhawk is the first new Curtiss model in 110 years, and it will be the last and final gas-powered motorcycle built by Curtiss Motorcycles. It is based on the Confederate P-51 Combat Fighter, with a limited run of 35 bikes.[3] On March 29, 2018, Confederate Motorcycles LLC purchased the intellectual property rights for the brand and Confederate designs.[4] Confederate is currently manufacturing an all new G3 Confederate Fighter while it winds down production of the last few individually numbered Confederate G2 P-51 Combat Fighters and FA-13 Combat Bombers.

History

Confederate opened in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1991, and after a brief move to San Francisco, California, the next year, moved to a prototype shop in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1993. The company's first motorcycle rolled off the production line there on November 11, 1994. Over 500 first generation Hellcat models were built from 1996 to 2001.[5] After going bankrupt in 2001, Confederate recovered in 2003 and produced a second generation of Hellcats, about 75 total.[5]

After the severe factory damage in August 2005 by Hurricane Katrina interrupted production,[5] Confederate moved its corporate headquarters and assembly operations to a building in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Production resumed after the reorganization and move in early 2006, with an announcement in May of their $5 million expansion plans for production of a third, more affordable, model.

Confederate sold 37 bikes in 2008 and anticipated the sale of 30 bikes in 2009, due to the recession. Even though Confederate's buyers are too rich to be affected by the economic downturn, company founder Matt Chambers said during the recession, "it was very fashionable to not be buying a high-end luxury product like ours."[6]

In 2013, the company moved to a larger facility in Birmingham.[7] Confederate produced 130 G3 Hellcats. In 2016 Confederate has launched a G2 Fighter and had plans to launch a G2 Wraith.

At the August 2017 Quail Motorcycle Gathering, Confederate's President Matt Chambers said the Confederate name would be changed to Curtiss, and the company would switch to electric motorcycles in partnership with established electric bike maker Zero Motorcycles.[1] The new model is to be a high-powered cruiser called the Hercules, made in Zero's California facility, not the Birmingham, Alabama Confederate Motorcycle factory.[1] Chambers said that the Civil War connotations of the Confederate name had cost the company business, and they "missed out on branding opportunities" because of it.[1] The Curtiss Motorcycles name is a reference to aviation and motorcycle pioneer Glenn Curtiss.[1] Chambers had defended the Confederate name and motto, "Art of Rebellion", as recently as June 2017, saying "the rebellion we're talking about is cerebral and spiritual and inside of you", connected with the ideas of Albert Camus or E. E. Cummings, and Southern principles Chambers is proud of, not their "unprincipled application", adding that he is "glad the South lost" the Civil War.[8]

In March of 2018, Ernest Lee Capital LLC, Confederate Motorcycles LLC purchased the Confederate intellectual property including the name, logo and motorcycle designs. Confederate immediately announced plans to launch a Confederate G3 Fighter and to continue to sell the existing limited production G2 P-51 Combat Fighters and FA-13 Combat Bombers.

Motorcycles

Confederate Wraith B120 at 2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Confederate produced the G1 Hellcat from 1999 - 2001. The G2 Hellcat was produced from 2002 to 2007. The Wraith was produced was 2007 to 2009 and the Fighter from 2009 to 2011. The G3 Hellcat was produced until being sold out in the fourth quarter of 2015.

In 2007, the $92,000 B-120 Wraith and F-131 Hellcat took first and second place respectively in the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building show at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, in the production manufacturer category.[6]

Pre-production 1 is the first Confederate Fighter. Claimed average speed of 155.8 mph (250.7 km/h) in the flying mile at Bonneville Speedway.

In late 2015, entered production of the G2 P-51 Combat Fighter, this models frame is produced from a solid billet block of aluminum, creating a aluminum monocoque frame, of which 61 examples will be made, selling for $119,500. Confederate had plans to launch a G2 Wraith and a G3 Hellcat.

In August 2017, Confederate announced a limited edition FA-13 Combat Bomber model based on the G2 P-51 Combat Fighter.[9] This models 2,163 cc (132.0 cu in) 56-degree air cooled V-twin engine has claimed specifications of 145 hp (108 kW) @ 5,100 rpm and 160 lb⋅ft (220 N⋅m) @ 2,000 rpm and a wet weight of 560 lb (250 kg), with a top speed of 160 mph (260 km/h)

In 2018, the Warhawk model based on the Confederate P-51 Fighter will be the last and final gas-powered motorcycle that Curtiss Motorcycles will build, only 35 bikes will be produced.

In April 2018, Confederate announced that it would soon begin production of an all new Confederate G3 Fighter and that it was designing a Hellcat and a Wraith for future manufacture and distribution worldwide.

In May 2018, Confederate announced plans to begin a factory buyback, consignment and restoration plan for pre-owned Confederate motorcycles.

Current models

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Fleming, Charles (2017-08-18). "Pebble Beach 2017: Confederate Motorcycles announces plan to go electric with Santa Cruz company". The Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  2. ↑ Boulanger, Gaz (August 23, 2017). "Who Was Glenn Curtiss And What Does He Have To Do With Zero Motorcycles?". Cycle World. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  3. ↑ Hanlon, Mike (February 21, 2018). "Curtiss Warhawk: Limited edition, 150-hp, V-twin industrial art". New Atlas. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  4. ↑ Brandt, Eric. "Confederate Motorcycles Lives on Under New Ownership". The Drive. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  5. 1 2 3 Carpenter, Susan (December 20, 2006), "Paparazzi magnet; Gawkers get whiplash when Confederate Motor's new Wraith rolls by. That alone may make it a worthy successor to the star-seducing Hellcat.", Los Angeles Times, p. G.1
  6. 1 2 Carpenter, Susan (October 24, 2009), "A bumpy ride for motorcycle makers; Sales plunge 37.3% in the third quarter. The industry is cutting staff and product lines.", Los Angeles Times, pp. B1, B4, retrieved June 7, 2011  Online version headline: "Motorcycle makers cutting staff and product lines as sales plunge"
  7. ↑ Tomberlin, Michael (November 18, 2013) "Confederate Motors relocates, expands and American Building Supply moves headquarters to Birmingham in Graham & Co. deals." Birmingham News
  8. ↑ Schelzig, Erik (July 18, 2017), "What I Learned Riding A $135,000 Motorcycle", Jalopnik
  9. ↑ Confederate Motorcycles. "Confederate Motorcycles Unveiled the R-Code Combat Bomber, Its Most Powerful Example of the Art of Rebellion to Date, at the Pebble Beach Quail Event Today [press release]". Business Wire. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
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