No matter how much time passes, some things never lose their luster. Harley-Davidson, made with a firm belief and overflowing passion for motorcycles, is one of them. Models produced in the 1930s to 1960s, when American industrial products swept the world with their high performance and sophisticated design, continue to fascinate people as symbols of the good old days. We will introduce some of the valuable collections stored at Semba Motors in Osaka.
● Article: Takao Aoki ●Photo: Nozomi Fujimura ●External Links: Semba Motors
Something passed down by enthusiasts who know its value
The bore and stroke of the cast iron cylinders are 84.14 x 88.9 mm, and the displacement is 61 cubic inches = 988 cc. This is Harley-Davidson's first commercially available OHV V-twin engine, the "Knucklehead."
The "EL Knucklehead" was released in 1936 to compete with Indian and European cars. The EL was based on the E, but with a compression ratio increased from 6.5 to 7.0. From the 1941 model year, the F and FL were also added to the lineup, with bore and stroke scaled up to 87.3 x 100.8 mm and an engine displacement of 1200 cc (74 ci).
The one that remains at Semba Motors is a very precious 1947 model, the final model of the Knuckle. The following year, Harley-Davidson evolved the engine into the "Panhead," the second generation of OHV (aluminum cylinder head) (more specifically, from 1949, the front suspension was changed from springer forks to hydraulic telescopic).
The person who has treasured this precious vehicle is Mike Wolf, an antique collector and motorcycle enthusiast. He conceived and appears as an antique hunter (as a shop owner) in "American Pickers," a reality show on the History Channel that is broadcast in over 200 countries around the world. The show has gained popularity due to its many highlights, such as unearthing hidden treasures such as vintage items in rural American towns and negotiating prices with the owners.
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