In 1962, Peter Mole of the John T. Bill & Co contacted Huffman with a concept for producing a bicycle based on a motorcycle, which he called the "High Rise". Mole developed the bike based on heavily modified children's bicycles that were becoming popular with pre-teens in Southern California, and which mimicked the appearance of customized "chopper" motorcycles. The "High Rise" had a long "banana seat" with supporting struts and tall "ape-hanger" handlebars. Huffy hesitated for several months before agreeing to make the bike, on the condition that if the bike failed to sell that Mole would buy all the leftover parts and frames. The new bike, informally designated the "Penguin", began appearing in retail stores by March 1963. The "Penguin" was the first of the banana-seat "chopper" bicycles to reach the U.S. market.