Dalton Walker, founder and owner of Split Image Customs (S.I.C.), is no stranger in the custom motorcycle world but that is not what grabbed our attention. We stumbled across his work at the recent Grand National Roadster Show with an amazing combination of custom bike hauler and custom motorcycle build. It appeared that Walker had entered the European Custom Motorcycle class (5180) with his 1951 Triumph bike build. However, it was the hauler that initially caught our eye.
Called “The Big Orange,” the 1951 Triumph and 1923 Ford C-Cab custom hauler work together well as a tandem. Both are throwbacks to a much earlier time. We still spot the venerable old C-Cabs here and there, but they are not as prolific as they once were. This pairing would make you believe that Walker was a 60-year-old fabricator.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Walker appears to be in his mid-30s, with the work ethic, experience, and artistic eye of someone much older. Another way to describe his builds is that Dalton Walker produces timeless works of art that could be appreciated in any era.
While his work and passion may rest in the two-wheeled world, we appreciated what he had done with the old C-Cab Ford. We spotted it from across the building and Ed Roth came to mind instantly. Like a grown up Mega Cycle except it was slightly bigger and had no windscreen. Leave it to another visionary to merge the distance between cage and cycle, bringing them closer together. Well done Dalton. Well done.