"This handsome, comprehensively restored 1947 Harley-Davidson WL Police model is part of the longest chain of police models produced by any manufacturer. Harley-Davidson began supplying motorcycles to America’s police forces in 1908, with the first customer being the Detroit PD, and many cities followed. Those first municipal patrol machines were basically standard models with a few stenciled logos on the tank and fenders, but police models would become more specialized over time as lights and sirens became the norm. In the ‘Teens and early 1920s, a standard V-twin was just the ticket to keep the sparse traffic under control, as motorcycles were quicker, faster and more agile than just about any car, and with only a few hundred miles of paved roads in the period, agility was a real advantage. Prohibition and the consequent rising wealth of organized crime syndicates meant the “bad guys” could afford the best and fastest cars and motorcycles themselves.
Most police used Harley-Davidson J models with 61 CI motors, while the 74 CI JD models were faster—it took a while to make the shift for police forces, but the need for speed paired with increasing traffic on America’s roads meant the factory responded by offering faster bikes for police forces. The side-valve 80 CI VLH model from 1935 was intended as a police pursuit motorcycle, and it was tested by the California Highway Patrol at a sustained 100 MPH. That was as fast as anything on the roads, once again, and kept Harley-Davidson out front in supplying highway patrols across the country. During World War II, the WLA side-valve was the machine of choice for MPs, and many police forces adopted the WL civilian model for patrol duties after the war, as with this machine. The stone reliability of the WL series made it a natural for fleet sales, and its wartime reputation was peerless, as it could be relied on in any weather or conditions to keep slogging along.
This 1947 Harley-Davidson WL 45 CI Police model is a stunning, comprehensively restored machine that comes complete with the period-correct streamlined siren and red lights."
many more pictures at the Mecum link and this bike is part of a collection hitting the auction block June 3-7.
I was born in '55 and have had a strong hankerin' for either a '55 Pan, or same-year Chevy or even a Ford, and probably as strong a hankerin' for a no-window delivery truck as for a Pan.
My Pan wouldn't have to be restored, at least not to a top-level collector's perfectionist's eye. Couldn't ever afford one (I've waited too long to even think seriously about trying to find a running, ride-able fully restored example). I wouldn't even be turned off by a chopper or bobber. In fact, as long as the motor was done well, I'd prefer a chopper. 'Course, a bobber with a year-correct springer would be nice too. But bottom line, something I could legitimately call a "1955" year-model is what I'd like.
Having not looked seriously at this point, I'm not sure which would be more money, a van-delivery, a '55 Bel Air or a Pan. I *think* the Delivery would be most expensive generally-speaking, but since I was ever really in the market for a classic of one sort or another so long ago, I have no idea what the market is like now.
I love the looks of that '48, but I'd never bid on it. Gotta be a '55. One day....... maybe.
My dad's first motorcycle was a new 1948 74 cu in (at the age of 22), it was also the last "big" bike he owned. Only enduros after that because we moved to Alaska then to Oregon and he didn't have interest in road bikes
04-14-2020, 09:21 PM
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