Old-School Harley Chopper Emerges From 30 Years in Storage
Anybody can build a Sixties-era Harley chopper, but it’s not everyday you can buy an original.
It’s kind of funny how many old motorcycles seem to magically emerge from barns once their value starts to skyrocket. But your typical barn find usually leaves a lot to be desired. After all, you’re talking about a bike that likely hasn’t run or moved in decades. And most vehicles are made to, well, run and move. But this killer 1947 Harley chopper isn’t your typical dusty and crusty barn find.
We spotted the period-perfect ride on eBay. And at first glance, we figured it was probably just a tribute bike built to pay homage to choppers from the ’60s. But in reality, it’s the real deal – an FL converted to a full on ’60s custom. The owner even has pictures of the bike from the 80s, when it looks exactly the same as it does today.
Clearly, somebody didn’t just pull the old “store and ignore” job here, even though the Harley chopper sat tucked away for over 30 years. Cosmetically, the bike remains exactly as it was all that time ago. But it has been treated to a rebuilt motor, transmission, carb, brakes, and clutch. The original front end remains, as does the modded frame and old school exhaust pipes.
Even though there are a few chips and scratches here and there, we’re glad the current owner left the bike as is. After all, a rechrome/repaint would kind of ruin the fact that this is a vintage build. And now that she runs as good as she looks, this Harley chopper is ready to hit the highway again. Just like she did all those years ago.
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