7 over 1

[kg993]

Is there any way this can be a factory mistake?

[camsaure]

It really would not surprise me. I don't think they, the motor company would want to scrap an engine from a slight mistake. I have personaly seen in the early 70s, 73 I think, a Sportster with a complete number lined out and another vin number stamped just above it. I think it has been mentioned by others on this forum as well. It looks like the "1" was just a light hit with the guy stamping realizing the mistake and simply superimposing the 7 over it. That is my take on it any ways. It doesn't really look like the boss has been altered to me.

[kg993]

camsaure the more I look at it I'm leaning to believe it was the factory. If someone was trying to alter the 1 they would have lowered and moved the 7 to the left to gain more coverage. Or they just screwed up, I don't know how to prove what actually happened. And yes the boss is untouched, never even lightly polished. The heads and trans case both are dated Nov. 57. Could that help knowing if it should be the 100th. bike off the line or the 6,100th. one?

[Larry May]

yes, I have a 77 xlt that is 100% org and part of the engine # is lined thru and restamped above, it is obivious what happened, the stamper was matching The motor # with the frame # and got one # out of place and started over, I have seen a few of these

[Speeding Big Twin]

I remember this thread and there was also a second one but I didn’t post in either of them at that time.



https://forum.antiquemotorcycle.org/...ht=#post129667



I don’t know what happened with that SN but the 7 intrigues me because it has no serif. Normally for a 58 Pan I’d expect a seriffed 7 as per the example below.
Eric

[droptopford]

I don’t know what happened with that SN but the 7 intrigues me because it has no serif. Normally for a 58 Pan I’d expect a seriffed 7 as per the example below.
Eric

That is weird. I haven't noticed any '7's like that (without the serif) being used in a VIN until 1967.

[Chris Haynes]

A total of 6,038 Big Twins were built in 1958. This number is higher than production.

[Speeding Big Twin]

The Legend Begins includes 6,038 Pans for 1958 but page 198 of that book says its production figures are not to be regarded as totally accurate.

Bruce Palmer’s SE said 1958 Pan SNs range to 7038 but he also said it is an approximate with +/- 100 accuracy.

Has anyone got a picture of an authentic-looking 58 Pan SN higher than 7038? I do but it is under 7100.

A 1981 Connecticut police document said the highest 58 Pan SN was 7107 while a 1986 alleged motorcycle ID guide by Lee S Cole suggested 7108. However, currently I can’t believe either figure because both publications are known to have some bad info and therefore I consider the rest of it suspect.

Anyway, is it possible for a 58 Pan to have SN 71++? At this stage I’d say yes it is possible. But on this occasion the sans serif 7 makes me think the SN is not authentic.
Eric

[droptopford]

Anyway, is it possible for a 58 Pan to have SN 71++? At this stage I’d say yes it is possible. But on this occasion the sans serif 7 makes me think the SN is not authentic.
Eric

For what it's worth, I agree Eric. We've all seen examples of unusual/inconsistent things that went on in the factory back in the day. But... pretty hard to imagine a scenario where a worker uses as stamp that does't even exist for another eight or nine years.

[Chris Haynes]

What is the line bore number on this case? It should be reasonably close to the serial number and not thousands away.