1942 WLD...too good to be true??

[Re-cycleInc]

Came across the '42 WLD on fleabay and the VIN looks altered. to my amature eye. The stamps don't seem to fit the boss quite right (height looks small), the alignment of the stampig is more shaky than usual and the "D" looks extremely questionable. The dealership selling it is an HD dealer, but they have it listed as all original and the title is a WLD. Thought I would post here to get some expert opinions.

[Chris Haynes]

Definitely bogus numbers. Looks like a blank case stamped with garage sale stamps.

[c.o.]

This is no expert opinion but those numbers look pretty funky to me.

[Chris Haynes]

Here you can see what 1942 numbers are supposed to look like.
http://www.vintageamericanmotorcycles.com/v/Numbers/

[Re-cycleInc]

Thanks to the experts

That's what I thought....thanks everyone for confirming my suspicions. They had a buy-it-now price of $16k for the whole bike, but they also stated everything was original except for the paint job. I was extremely interested until I saw the number boss. I compared it to my 42WLA, 47WL and 57G stampings and it didn't seem quite right. I've been burned before...like everyone else...and I didn't want to get caught up in another bad investment. It would have been nice to have one of 133 machines made. Oh well, I'll keep looking!

Chris - Thanks for the pictoral references for stampings. That's a nice resource. I usually depend on Bruce's book and it's nice to see such a variety on the site you posted.

Thanks,
Scott
AMCA #13993

[exeric]

Just out of curiosity. Is it possible that a genuine H-D dealer could use non factory font stamps (i.e. cheap stamps) and be legal. I agree with everyone else about the cheesiness of this number job. I was just wondering if dealers had to use factory supplied stamps and if they had a defined proceedure from H-D.

[Rubone]

I am not aware that dealers were ever required to use a particular set of stamps. The dealerships i was involved with never indicated such. And in the case of state issued numbers those were normally stamped by a licensed dealer for the DMV. At least in my state, but i am not sure if that case remains. I believe that now a DMV employee installs a sticker and that suffices. I have seen quite a few legitimately titled engines over the years that were dealer stamped replacement cases as well as Military surplus 45 and U cases with all manner of fonts and various sizes. While not illegal they are certainly less desirable to any collector or owner who may be concerned about overzealous law enforcement.
Robbie

[Limey_Dave]

What ever style was used,a dealer would at least have a full set of stamps.
The "L" is two "I"'s and the "D" is an "I" + a "0".

Belongs in the Mickey Mouse Hall of Fame.

[bear54]

It's my understanding at least with the old Canadian dealers, that they all had stamps from the factory but they were a bit different. We know that the factory numbers look like e.g. 6 and 9 have straight legs. I've been told that with a dealers stamp the 6s and 9s are round legs. What do you think?