Shovelhead Sidecar Law Enforcement Unit Looks Sharp

Auction Rig

From the 'gotcha' red auxiliary lights to its fishtail exhaust, this is one perfectly preserved police unit. Snatched up almost immediately from its auction listing, the sidecar-equipped 1969 FLH Electra Glide has less than 12,000 miles on the clock. It is doubtful that the Shovelhead was ever a pursuit unit, but this sharp rig will certainly be catching some looks.

Photos courtesy of eBay Motors.

Strong Relationship

The game 'Cops and Robbers' can be traced back to around the time that Harley-Davidson sold their first police bike in 1908. Two decades later, near the end of the 1920s, over 3,000 police departments in the United States were dispatching Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The Motor Company's relationship with law enforcement is one that is still going strong to this day.

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Last Setup

Despite the robust partnership, things got a little rocky in the 1970s. In a number of ways, this crisp white police rig signals a changing of the guard for both police agencies and Harley-Davidson. From a purely mechanical perspective, 1969 was the last year for generator electrical systems for Big Twins. The following year ushered in the 'cone motor' and an alternator setup.

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Quality Reputation

In the same year that this crime-crushing three-wheeler rolled off the factory floor, the American Machine and Foundry bailed out a financially beleaguered Harley-Davidson and took over production. In a well-known history, cuts to the Motor Company's workforce and the AMF's attempt to streamline output resulted in a drop in quality and the MoCo's reputation took a hit.

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Outfitted Bike

The situation worsened over the course of the 1970s, and police departments began looking elsewhere to replace their once-ubiquitous Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Kawasaki emerged as the law enforcement ride of choice. Without a dedicated police version, early models were outfitted in Lincoln, Nebraska. ChiPs, the popular 1977 cop show, further ingrained the Japanese police bike into the American psyche.

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Shared Name

It took Harley-Davidson around a decade to regain their footing in the police motorcycle market. In 1985, the Motor Company climbed back on top with the introduction of the FXRP and the new Evolution engine. Keen observers will note that this 1969 cop bike does not have AMF/Harley-Davidson badges. The shared name plaque was only introduced the following year in 1970.

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Factory Machine

With all its police accessories fully functioning, this Electra Glide is a remarkable time capsule. Its end of an era status is further enhanced by its production number. Out of the 15,600 Electra Glides produced in 1969, this FLH is number 15,159, placing it in the last five hundred machines to emerge from the factory in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that year.

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Good Fight

By 1973, production operations had moved to the new plant in York, Pennsylvania. This gleaming white police Shovelhead and sidecar sold for a modest $24,995. While its street beat days are a thing of the past, this sharp-looking rig carries with it a legacy that has persevered. In many ways, it is a reminder that a good fight is always worth it, regardless of the adversity.

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