Export Green

[Eric MATHIEU]

I'm doing a 1938 knucklehead in export configuration. I found this bike in France where I live and am convinced that it how it was originally delivered.

Can anyone help with Export Green 1930s HD paint codes? Or does anyone have a part with remains of export green original paint they want to sell/trade? I know there are guys out there selling what they say is matched to original colors but I'm sceptic and being overseas, it's always a problem to have paint & chemicals shipped here.

Also, any photos of 1930s bikes in export green would help,
Eric

[Chris Haynes]

I'm doing a 1938 knucklehead in export configuration. I found this bike in France where I live and am convinced that it how it was originally delivered.

Can anyone help with Export Green 1930s HD paint codes? Or does anyone have a part with remains of export green original paint they want to sell/trade? I know there are guys out there selling what they say is matched to original colors but I'm sceptic and being overseas, it's always a problem to have paint & chemicals shipped here.

Also, any photos of 1930s bikes in export green would help,
Eric

To my knowledge it was the H-D Olive Green.

[23JDCA 808]

From Jerry Hatfield's book (Inside Harley-Davidson) p.73 "The 1928 Harley-Davidsons could be special-ordered with any color or colors." He is quoting from The Harley-Davidson Enthusiast for March 1928. He adds that this could also be ...1928 and later.
If you want a close match, I would pick a spot from a protected spot. ...bill in oregon

[pete reeves]

Eric. One of the problems you will have with matching colours from original parts is that there is a very noticeable difference between parts that have been exposed to sun light and those that have not. The area under the tool box on my bike is a much lighter green than the rest of the bike.

Pete Reeves 860

[Chris Haynes]

From Jerry Hatfield's book (Inside Harley-Davidson) p.73 "The 1928 Harley-Davidsons could be special-ordered with any color or colors." He is quoting from The Harley-Davidson Enthusiast for March 1928. He adds that this could also be ...1928 and later.

Bill,
While I greatly respect Jerry's work I have never seen any factory documentation of "any color" in 1928 or later.
Yes, special color machines were shown at the New York show. But in reading the article there is no mention about them being available to the public. Who were these special colors available to? (Note that on page 5 of the March 1928 Enthusiast Uncle Frank mentions the JDXL. Has anybody ever heard of one of those?)
"Uncle Frank" makes no mention of "any color" option in his 1928 New Model Announcement in the August 1927 Enthusiast.
The 1928 sales brochure lists the color as Olive Green with Maroon Stripe. No mention of custom colors there.
There are no "optional colors" listed on the 1928 "Motorcycle Order" blank.
As described in "The Legend Begins" the only color available was "Olive Green with Maroon stripe with Gold center and edged in black.
I have often hear this rumor about the 1928 colors but I have never seen any factory documentation on it. If somebody has it I would love to see it.
It is known that the MoCo definitely did do custom paint work. I have order blanks for custom painted motorcycles from Molenaar H-D. Bruce has the delivery invoices on these machines showing they were delivered with their custom paint. Yet no factory literature backs this up.
The 1941 literature lists no "Any Color" option. Yet a friend has a MoCo letter signed by William S. Harley advising a customer that he can order his machine in a special color for an additional charge of $7.50.
If custom colors were available how did John Q. Public find out about them?
Notice the custom painted 1939 bike in the right side of this photo. The frame and fork match the tank and fender color (red?)

[Jerry Hatfield]

Sometimes the accessories brochures listed touch-up paints. Are there any clues from this source?

[Eric MATHIEU]

Peter,
Yes of course I know about this issue. My personal experience is that one of the best areas to get a correct paint match is the inside (towards frame) of the gas tanks. Now all I need to do is find an original paint "Export Green" gas tank...

I've heard the statement of "export green" being the same as "olive green" but I don't feel it's right. Pictures of original paint bikes seem look like Export Green is brownish, while Olive Green is really green.
Eric

[Chris Haynes]

I've heard the statement of "export green" being the same as "olive green" but I don't feel it's right. Pictures of original paint bikes seem look like Export Green is brownish, while Olive Green is really green.
Eric

I have seen this bike in person. Believe me it doesn't look brownish.

[flat-happy]

I Think Back In Those Days The Dealers Actually Talked To The Customers And The Dealers Themselves Told The Customers Of The Availability Of Custom Colors. I Remember Seeing A Rubber Stamp On An Order Blank That Simply Said

Optional
Custom
Color_________

When I Asked The Dealer About It He Said He Still Had The Stamp And A Few Months Later He Found It And Showed It To Me. Some Of Those Stamps Must Have Survived.

[pete reeves]

Eric. I think you are right that the olive green on mid to late 30s bikes appear to be more brownish than the late 20s olive green. But I have not parked my bike next to an original paint J to make a comparison.
It’s possible that the colour was the same but the varnish/lacquer or what ever finish they used on top of the colour was different and has turned brown with age.

Chris I think you may be mistaking the bike in the picture with another, the bike in the picture has not left Europe since it was first exported too the Netherlands in 1936.

Pete Reeves 860

[Chris Haynes]

Eric. I think you are right that the olive green on mid to late 30s bikes appear to be more brownish than the late 20s olive green. But I have not parked my bike next to an original paint J to make a comparison.
It’s possible that the colour was the same but the varnish/lacquer or what ever finish they used on top of the colour was different and has turned brown with age.

Chris I think you may be mistaking the bike in the picture with another, the bike in the picture has not left Europe since it was first exported too the Netherlands in 1936.

Pete Reeves 860

I saw an identical looking 36EL export model at Davenport a few years ago. Hard to believe two of them survived. I also saw a restored export 36EL. Done by Lonnie if the old memory serves.

[silentgreyfello]

Steve Marxen from Iowa is just finishing restoring his '37 knuckle in Export Green. He did considerable research to get the paint code right. After all said and done, it is exactly the same color as an olive out of a jar, no kidding. Del Monte brand? I don't know. I will see what the paint code is that he used.

[Perry Ruiter]

There are no "optional colors" listed on the 1928 "Motorcycle Order" blank.
As described in "The Legend Begins" the only color available was "Olive Green with Maroon stripe with Gold center and edged in black.
I have often hear this rumor about the 1928 colors but I have never seen any factory documentation on it. If somebody has it I would love to see it.

It's not 1928 but here's a scan of a 1929 standardized special colors brochure. The bottom text says "The prices quoted on this folder apply only to the standardized special colors, striping and paneling as described above and shown at left. All other colors and combinations require special quotations." (emphasis mine) ... Perry

[Chris Haynes]

A great piece of information Perry.
Can you show us the other side?
"The Legend Begins" has this information for 1929. "All Big Twin models finished in Harley-Davidson Olive Green with Maroon stripe with Gold center and edged in Black. Note: A selection of optional colors were offered (color names not known."
Thanks to you we now know the names.

[rwm]

eric try another eric in france harley-memories.com