panhead history

[richard s campling]

Hi everybody new member here been riding 45 years mainly brit bikes ,got into harleys 25 years ago and have owned quite a few old and new .Recently purchased a 1957 panhead my fourth with interesting history .The bike was sent to Vietnam in 57 by Eisenhower along with a few other bikes to be used as escort bikes for the then president .They shot him a few months later apparently,anyway . I am now trying to trace the history of the bike but not sure how ,i know a lot of info can come from the vin number but still struggling .If any body can help all info would be gratefully appreciated .Regards Richard

[PaulCDF]

WELCOME Richard
Any pictures of this Historic Pan? If memory serves 57 was first year of improved crankcase bearings. Always liked those Panheads.

Here is my Shameless plug to find and join your local Chapter:

Chapter Finder - The Antique Motorcycle Club of America

Again WELCOME

[1939wl]

Welcome Richard,
Very interesting project. Any pictures appreciated.
Enjoy the forum.

[joe fxs fxr]

Yes, please post pictures. That is a very interesting history, tell us more.

.They shot him a few months later apparently,anyway .

Shot who?

[richard s campling]

the bikes away for full engine rebuild when its back i will post pictures ,and the president of vietnam was shot ,some people have asked

[JoJo357]

Greetings from the forum Richard. I guess that 57' is a world traveler! Hope to see some pictures.*Good Luck with the rebuild.

My 1946 H-D U Model had some history also. The Guatemala Police Department ordered it new in 1946. Remarkably, they kept it in service for over 40 years~Hahaha. When the Volcano Tacana had a threat of erupting, they were so attached to the 46', that it was also evacuated~Haha.

*Picture taken after it was shipped back to the USA. One of the Guatemala PD officers ended up buying it, after it's long service, and then sold it a little later to someone in the States. *Still Huffin' & Puffin'.

*M.A.D.*
fullsizeoutput_13.jpeg

[jorrow]

Welcome Richard, and IMG_6396.jpeg good luck finding your 57's history! My '57 came from El Salvador.

[richard s campling]

lovely bike just like mine

[jorrow]

Beautiful U JoJo, nothing quite like a big flathead. So dependable.

[JoJo357]

Beautiful U JoJo, nothing quite like a big flathead. So dependable.

Thank You Jeff, your '57 is a beaut also! Those 'cRaZy' saddlebag guards are the cat's ass!!! Who made them?

*M.A.D.*

[jorrow]

About the guards, I couldn't tell you JoJo. One of the forum members had scored a few sets of them at one of the smaller meets, and he was nice enough to sell me some for mine. That was several years ago.