Anyone out there got a site or link, proving that the Fatboy got its name from the atomic bombs of 1945.
Littleboy and Fatman.

 

http://www.snopes.com/business/market/fatboy.asp

 

Try this one. Towards the end of the article it states:

"In the early 1990's the Fat Boy design was introduced and quickly caught on. The name Fatboy was derived by combining the names of the two atomic bombs "Fat man" and "Little Boy" which were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. It was destined from the start to become a Collector's item among biking enthusiasts and definitely achieved that status throughout its existence. Also in 1990, Construction on a 31 million dollar state of the art paint facility began in York, Pennsylvania. It was finished the following year."

 

ok cool 1 more what is the meaning of the 7 yellow stripes on the "special model"?

 

Interesting

 

The History of the fat Boy, Humm...
Remember when the MOCO used to manufacture a “Heritage Softail” & a “Heritage Softail Classic”?
The Difference was that the “classic” came with saddle bags a fog light bar with the directionals underneath and a windshield and I think 1 or 2 colors

The regular Heritage was only about $600.00 less than the Classic.
Then came the marketing; they stopped the “Heritage” in 90, I think. and only offered the “Classic”

Kinda smart because every one I knew bought a Classic and striped it down to a Heritage

So after a manufacturing break they came out with the silver fat Boy with the yellow stripe in the rocker box.
And wola a Re branded Regular Heritage without the bags, windshield, and light rail for the same $$$ as a Classic and the public bought it!!!

This was HD's way to give some variety and get the same $$ for the same bike they offered years ago.
Oh yeah they changed the pipes to
As far as it named after the bomb I sure hope not. Although a very effective weapon depending in how you look at it, it would be upsetting to name anything so wonderful & enjoyable as a Harley Davidson after such a destructive apparatus

I am probably wrong about some of this and am sure I will stand corrected

 

You will never find a link supporting the moco's cause linking the Fatboy to the bombs dropped on Japan and waging war on the Japanese motorcycles. That being said, I believe it to be true and if it is, it is one of the greatest marketing ploys that has come from this country in a very long time. Wage war on your enemies General Motors, Ford, and gasp Chrysler. Screw your bailout!!! Wage war and fight to keep your prominence...

 

Thanks guy...
I did an artical about the Fatboy wheels in our HOG chapter news letter, being that they came from B-29's and all, found a lot of interesting stuff.
The yellow strip are the same color as Fatman, a plutonium atomic bomb. Not sure about the "7" rings though.
The silver is from the color of the two B-29's , code named "Silverplate". they when painted silver to match the blast wave that wound be under them.
Note the Fatboy badge on the tank, look very simular to the Air Force badge at that time.

With Snopes calling "False" on the story, I wonder if the Motor Co. had there fingers in on it.
BTW,
I am normally cruising the Touring section.

 

i have the harley book and it says that they are all false rumors and yes the wheels look like that of the bomber

 

You're thinking of the Army Air Corps insignia. There was no U.S. Air Force during WWII.