Factory '46 FL pictures?

[Chris Haynes]

My 1946 Factory Order Blank lists Skyway Blue, Flight Red, And Police silver as standard colors. Although the bike in thses pictures appears to be black but could be Flight Red. Here is that picture and a couple other shots of 1946 models.

[Chris Haynes]

[KNUCK]

That picture looks familiar. I guess because I originally posted it. If I recall correctly the bike was a 1945. She was the wife of a H-D dealer in IL;D

That is Mrs Swim on a 1946 Knuckle from Swims Harley Davidson!

[felthamw]

Hey Chris
Those pictures certainly help but not in the way I wanted.
The three pictures of 46FL1080 definitely show that the bike isn't black. The tins don't match the frame, etc.
But that last picture is 46WL1382 - a early SN and it is clearly black.
The order form sez........................blue, red, silver.
I can't risk a 6 point hit! Knowing that, this one may not get judged but the rest will be correct.
Thanks,
Wayne #4329

[sirhrmechanic]

I thought I remembered reading that the earliest 1946's were available only in Grey, Flight Red and (for police only) Silver. Later in '46 Blue was added.

Though for returning GI's, Marines and Sailors tired of olive, grey and drab... I can't imagine too many of them ordering their fancy new EL or FL in battleship grey!

I believe that pre-war, virtually any color could be special ordered from the factory if you were willing to pay and/or wait. I don't know if the ability to special order colors kept up postwar, especially with orders pouring in and materials still in short supply. But I think police departments could order Black or Silver at any time. It's just that silver was a police-only color and anyone could have a black bike. So perhaps the black was a police bike?

Just some thoughts. Nothing definitive.

Cheers,

Sirhr

[Chris Haynes]

I have war time Factory Order Blanks from Molenaar H-D showing non standard color machines being ordered. Bruce Palmer III has the factory invoices on these same bikes showing they were delivered in non standard colors.

[vph-d]

Does anyone have any pictures of '45 Big Twins ? I've stared at Palmer's '45 pictures with a magnifing glass so long the ink is getting faint !
VPH-D