TopHattersHistory




Push Here for Harley-Davidson Model Alphabet (Designator)
1901 In Milwaukee, William Harley, 21, and Arthur Davidson, 20, began experiments on "taking the work out of bicycling." They were soon joined by Arthur's brothers, Walter and William. 1903 Production: 3, Power plan: 25 CI single cylinder, 1- speed, Features: The first Harley Davidson motorcycle, List price: $200 The company Harley-Davidson was founded. Many changes were made to the engine design before its builders were satisfied. After the new looped frame was finalized, they were ready to begin production. The first Harley Davidson's were built: a 25 cubic inch (410cc) atmospheric-inlet-valve single-cylinder. Only 3 Harley-Davidson motorcycles were made in 1903. 1904 Production began in a shed behind the Davidson family home. The machine was a 30 cubic inch (494cc) single which was later dubbed the Silent Gray Fellow. 1906 Production: 50, Power plant 35 CI, 4 hp Single, Features: Second Model, List price: $235 Harley-Davidson erected its first building at the current Juneau Avenue site in 1906. 1907 Harley-Davidson incorporated in 1907. A prototype V-twin motorcycle was built. Although only 150 motorcycles were made this year, 1907 saw the first Harley-Davidsons sold for police duty. 1909 Production: 27, Power plant: 49-48 CI V-twin, 1-speed, Features: The first V-twin Harley, List price: $325 The trademark 45 degree V-Twin engine, introduced in 1909, displaced 49.5 cu in and produced seven horsepower. Top speed: 60 mph. 1909 production was truly massive compared to previous years (almost 8 times the 1907 production rate) at 1,149 motorcycles. 1911 1911 Harley-Davidson. 1912 The Harley-Davidson with a clutch mechanism was sold. The 1912 models came equipped a "Ful-floteing" sprung saddle. They were also available with a clutch that was located on the rear wheel, called "Free-Wheel" control, and a gas powered headlamp. Beginning in 1906, Harleys were offered in an optional gray color (instead of standard black)-a very popular option. The quiet-running Harleys came to be nicknamed "silent gray fellow" 1912 was the last year that a Harley engine had a "suction" type automatic inlet valve. 1913 Production: 12,904, Power plant: 60 CI, V-Twin, Features: Sidecar optional, List price: $285 The original 28' x 80' factory had grown to 297,110 square feet. Harley-Davidson began to dominate racing events. 1913 production: 12,904 motorcycles. 1914Stepstarters and internal expanding rear brakes were introduced. 1915 Three-speed transmissions were placed on production motorcycles for the first time. 1916-18 After Harley-Davidson motorcycles had proven their military value in border skirmishes with Pancho Villa, they were quickly called to duty when the U.S. entered WWI. Some 20,000 cycles would see duty before the war's end. 1920 Harley-Davidson became the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, boasting dealers in 67 countries. Harley-Davidson motorcycle development was evolutionary rather than revolutionary with side-valve machines replacing inlet-over-exhaust designs in the late 1920s. 1920 production: 28,189 motorcycles. 1921 In February 1921, on a Fresno, Calif., board track, a Harley-Davidson became the first motorcycle ever to win a race with an average speed over 100 mph. 1922 Motorcycles featuring a 74 cu in. V-Twin were first sold. 1925 The debut of the teardrop gas tank. 1924 1926 1928 Front wheel brakes were introduced dramatically improving the safety and handling of Harley-Davidson's cycles. 1929 After the stock market crash of October 1929, Harley-Davidson sales suffered with everyone else's in the industry. This year saw the introduction of the first 45 ci (750cc) side-valve V-twins, the "D" series. These used the same frame as the singles, which was made possible by mounting the generator perpendicular to the engine. Early Forty-fives lacked the power of their competition, the Indian Scout. 1930 1932 The 45ci Servicar model was introduced. 1933 The depression hit Harley-Davidson very hard. By 1933, production in Milwaukee had dropped to 3,700 vehicles. 1935 1936 Harley-Davidson wasted no time building momentum out of the depression, introducing its EL model, featuring the 61 ci (1000cc) overhead valve engine, also known as the "Knucklehead." This engine, termed the "61 OHV" in factory literature and called the Sixty-one in every day circles was a mid-season 1936 model. This, in the opinion of many, is the motorcycle that saved Harley-Davidson. At that time, for the first time, a major American motorcycle company was building a big motorcycle with overhead valves (this coming shortly after the major engineering difficulties of the 1929 Forty-five and the 1930 Seventy-four. Also introduced this year was the 80ci side valve twin engine. Despite the spectre of the depression Harley-Davidson produced almost 10000 motorcycles in 1936. 1938 1939 1941 Almost immediately after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Harley-Davidson's entire motorcycle output was produced for Allied use. By the end of World War II, 90,000 WLA army-version motorcycles had been built and shipped. 1942 Walter Davidson died at the age of 65. 1943 Bill Harley died at age 66. 1946 1947 The 74ci Overhead Valve big twin engine was introduced. 1948 After the war, motorcyclists were eager to get back to their sport. To feed their desire for more motorcycles, Harley-Davidson introduced a new 74 cu in. engine with hydraulic valve lifters and aluminum heads. The "Panhead" was born. 1948 production: 31,163 motorcycles. 1948 Harley Davidson WL. 1949 A new model called the Hydra-Glide was introduced. 1950 Arthur Davidson died at age 69. 1952 1952 Harley-Davidson "Hummer" 125 Ad. 1953 As Harley-Davidson celebrated its 50th anniversary, its oldest and closest competitor, Indian, went out of business, leaving Harley-Davidson as the sole survivor in a once overcrowded American motorcycle marketplace. Harley-Davidson expanded its line to include two-stroke engines and even a scooter. 1953 production: 14,050 motorcycles. 1955 A 1955 Harley-Davidson "Hummer" 165. 1956 1957 The Sportster was introduced. 1958 The Duo Glide (based on the earlier Hydra-Glide model) was introduced, featuring a hydraulic rear shock suspension to go with the hydraulically dampened front fork. Also in 1958, Carroll Resweber won the first of four consecutive AMA Grand National Championships. 1959 The 1959 Harley Davidson Duoglide 1960 Harley-Davidson bought the Italian Aermacchi company. Italian-built lightweights were sold in America under the Harley-Davidson name. Some Italian model included the Shortster and Sprint models. The "Topper" -- a now famous motorscooter -- was introduced. The Topper featured a pull-cord starting mechanism not unlike that of a lawn-mower. 1961 1963 In 1963, when it became apparent that fiberglass was becoming a versatile material for golf cars and motorcycles, Harley-Davidson purchased and converted a fiberglass boat company in Tomahawk, Wis. Willie G. Davidson joined Harley-Davidson as design director. 1965 George Roeder set a world land speed record of 177.225 mph for 250CC motorcycles on a modified Harley-Davidson Sprint. Bart Markel, aboard a Harley, won the second of his three AMA Grand National Championships. With the addition of an electric starter, the Duo Glide became the Electra Glide in 1965, which was also the last year of the "Panhead" engine. Harley-Davidson became a publicly-held company when it issued stock in 1965. 1966 The ShovelHead engine was introduced. 1966 production: 36,310 motorcycles. 1967 1969 After going public in 1965, Harley-Davidson took a new turn in 1969 by merging with the American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF). Rodney Gott, AMF's chairman, had been a Harley fan since before World War II. 1970 1971 Joe Smith, riding a drag bike powered by a single Harley-Davidson motor, was the first to break the nine-second barrier in motorcycle drag racing. 1971 also marked the introduction of the FX 1200 Super Glide, considered the first true factory custom. 1972 The 1000 cc XLH/XLCH Sportster models were introduced. 1972 saw the first disc brakes on a production Harley-Davidson cycle. 1974-1975 To help meet the demand of a booming motorcycle marketplace, chassis manufacturing and final assembly operations moved to a plant in York, Pa. Engine and transmission operations remained in Milwaukee, along with the corporate headquarters. 1975 production: 75,403 motorcycles. 1976-1978 Continuing the Harley-Davidson tradition of racing dominance, Jay "Springer" Springsteen won the AMA Grand National Championship in 1976, 1977 and 1978. In 1978 Harley-Davidson sold the Italian operation (the old Aermacchi company) and the sales of Italian motorcycles with the Harley-Davidson name was halted. 1979 1980 The 80 cu in FLT Tour Glide, with five-speed transmission, oil bath enclosed rear chain and a rubber-mounted engine (the predecessor to today's Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles) was introduced. 1981 Harley-Davidson executives bought the company back from AMF and a developed new models and a new image. With improved manufacturing and quality process, many of the old flaws of the HD design were resolved. 1983 President Reagan imposed additional tariffs on the import of Japanese motorcycles, improving Harley-Davidson's ability to compete against high-quality foreign manufacturers. H.O.G. (the Harley Owners' Group) was established. 1984 The "Evolution" engine was introduced. The first Softail models and Air Assisted Anti-Drive debuted. 1986 By offering stock Harley-Davidson once again becomes publicly owned and traded. 1988 Patented Springer front-end returns to HD models. 1990 The Dyna model debuted. 1991 All Harley-Davidson models finally featured a 5-speed transmission. 1992 Belt drives became universal on all models. 1995 Realizing that it is behind the competition Harley-Davidson introduces its first fuel-injected models.