Harley OHV Production Numbers 1936 - 1965

[panhead_jim]

I've been searching the web for a listing of Harley's production numbers and have not been able to come up with any decent information. As a last ditch effort, I decided to look in something called a "book". To spare everyone else from having to resort to such nonsense, I've put the information into digital form. Also found some great 3D models to go along with the numbers, just to make things more interesting.

1936 - 1947 "The Knucklehead Era"
1948 - 1965 "The Panhead Era"

[Rubone]

Jim,
You are already falling into the traps inherent in H-D lore. In your emblem info you list no civilian production for '43, now you list production numbers. Tread with caution friend, this is murky territory!
Robbie

[panhead_jim]

Since these are fiscal year numbers, the production numbers listed under 1943 could actually be early production 1944 models or as Chris Haynes suggests, Police or Fire Department purchases.

[Steve Slocombe]

If the production numbers are copied from the Harley-Davidson publication 'The Legend Begins' then watch out for the Harley lawyers. The company gives the impression of having more employees protecting intellectual property rights than building bikes.

[Chris Haynes]

The early production figures listed by the MoCo these days were created in the '70's. Company President John Davidson wanted production figures as they didn't have them. He told his secretary, Midge Kimbal, to find the figures for him. Midge went to the quarterly reports to the shareholders to get the information. However what she came up with were yearly production figures. This is not year model figures. Her figures are production from January 1st-December 31st. During this time two different year models are in production. these numbers are not correct but are the best we have to go on today. There are two different sources to get the correct numbers but the folks at the MoCo have not seen fit to tackle that job. One source is under their own roof. located in the service department is a numerical listing of every line bore number ever stamped. Next to the is the serial number stamped on that case. It would be a big job but the truth lies there. Another place would be the Federal Government at all vehicle manufacturers report exactly how many of each model are built each year. This may be like finding "The Lost Ark" in that warehouse of wooden crates stacked a mile high. But you can bet your buns that the Government has those numbers. After 1942 there were no civilian sales during WWII. But Police agencies, civil defense and other non military operations did receive some machines. These are the non military models you see during the 1942-1944 production figures. In 1945 after the war in Europe was winding down some limited civilian production was resumed. Reading the war year Enthusiast magazines you will see mention of Police Departments and their new war production model police machines. In the May 1946 Enthusiast the MoCo says "We regret, of course, that many Harley-Davidson enthusiasts who want to get new motorcycles are unable to do so at this time. We are making all the motorcycles we can, subject to the limitations of materials, and will continue to increase our production as rapidly as possible.". This tells us that they were producing machines for public consumption on a limited basis.

[AFJ]

Panhead Jim gives 16 as the number of ELC models produced. Other sources indicate that it was probably 44 produced and shipped to the Canadian Army with perhaps 1 "prototype" retained by H-D. All were fitted with left-hand sidecars.

AFJ

[Chris Haynes]

Panhead Jim gives 16 as the number of ELC models produced. Other sources indicate that it was probably 44 produced and shipped to the Canadian Army with perhaps 1 "prototype" retained by H-D. All were fitted with left-hand sidecars.

AFJ

Bruce Palmer III has a copy of the original Canadian National Defense contract Can-58. 44 1942 ELC models were ordered and delivered. Read all about it starting on page 159 or Palmer's Military book, if you can find one.

[Tommo]

As a matter of interest how accurate is the information in the "Harley-Davidson Data Book" by Rick Conner?
Some of his production figures differ from those published in the HD "The Legend Begins" book.

[Chris Haynes]

As a matter of interest how accurate is the information in the "Harley-Davidson Data Book" by Rick Conner?
Some of his production figures differ from those published in the HD "The Legend Begins" book.

You would have to ask Mr Conner what sources he plagiarized his information from. I know where some of it came from .

[Sargehere]

Is that the book that lists the WL as having a four-speed transmission for a couple of years?

[Tommo]

Yes Gerry 1938 to 1945
In my opinion there's lots of errors in that book but I asked the question to get other peoples feelings about the general accuracy of this book.

[Sargehere]

My feeling's it's not reliable as source material, for that cited 45 fantasy, and as I remember, others between its covers.

[panhead_jim]

Bruce Palmer III has a copy of the original Canadian National Defense contract Can-58. 44 1942 ELC models were ordered and delivered. Read all about it starting on page 159 or Palmer's Military book, if you can find one.

Good enough for me. Updated the production number to 44. It's amazing that documents like that survive and find their way into the right hands.

[Chris Haynes]

It's amazing that documents like that survive and find their way into the right hands.

Bruce spent a lot of time in the US and Canadian National Archives doing research for his military book.