55 Pan production numbers

[engineer52]

I just recently purchased a 55 Pan Head and I am trying to figure out the production number for that year. It is supposed to be in the Rick Conner H-D Data book but I don't have one. Thanks in advance.

Richard

[wideglide38]

Richard,
My '96 edition of Conner's data book lists the following FL production info. No mention of your model, so all FL's are listed.
FL: 953; FLE: 853; FLH: 63; FLF: 2,013; FLEF: 220 and FLHF: 1,040
Hope this helps,
William

[engineer52]

That does help. I forgot to post that mine is an FL. I think it is a pretty early production number but I am just trying to check and see. Assuming they started with number 1000 in 55.2014-09-16_121334.jpg2014-09-29_160526.jpg
The first picture is what it was when I brought it home. The second one is after I got some original sheet metal I had hanging on the wall. I think I am going to ride it that way while I am collecting parts.

Thanks again for the info,

Richard Conley

[Rubone]

Keep in mind that the final "F" in the above listed model designations does not appear in serial numbers and there is no way to determine from a pieced together bike whether it was hand or foot shift. So in your case an FL or an FLF total production is combined.

[wideglide38]

Keep in mind that the final "F" in the above listed model designations does not appear in serial numbers and there is no way to determine from a pieced together bike whether it was hand or foot shift. So in your case an FL or an FLF total production is combined.

Robbie, I forgot to mention the final "F" not appearing. If I understand you correctly on combined production totals; does this make total production for '55 Big Twin models as FL/FLF (2,013 units); FLH/FLHF (1,400 units) and FLE/FLEF (853 units) for a total count of 4,266 FL's that year? Thx

[vph-d]

Keep in mind that those production figures are approximates, since they are probably based on info taken from 'The Legend Begins', which was based on calendar year.
VPH-D

[engineer52]

Thanks everyone for the info and input. I didn't need an exact science just wondering.

Richard

[jwl]

I have a 1955 F. The F doesn't show up in any books I've looked at. Info from previous owner was that it was exported to Mexico as a police bike. I have no clue if that is truth or fiction.

[TBucks]

I recently bought a 55FLH. I understand that there is a conflicting story of how many FLH's were made that year. 63 or 1000. Does the foot clutch or hand clutch issue have anything to do with the discrimination? Also i understand that the FLHs were produced late in the year. If only 63 FLHs were made in that year that would make them pretty rare. Right?

[Rubone]

I recently bought a 55FLH. I understand that there is a conflicting story of how many FLH's were made that year. 63 or 1000. Does the foot clutch or hand clutch issue have anything to do with the discrimination? Also i understand that the FLHs were produced late in the year. If only 63 FLHs were made in that year that would make them pretty rare. Right?

The 63 FLHs were hand shift versions. The total number of FLHs, is the combined total of both versions.

[Saddletramp]

TBucks,
This is a very old thread from 2014. But if you follow the data in post #2, and assuming Rick Connors data is correct which I might bet on, then the total FLH models at 63 which were probably hand shift models and the total FLHF which denotes foot shift was 1040, I would think the total FLH's produced would be around 1103. But then I always sucked at the 3 R's.
James

[Saddletramp]

Dammit Robbie, you beat me to it. I should have refreshed before I hit post reply. Obviously, I was also slow at the 3 R's.