Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
30th Oct, 2024 13:00
1941 Harley Davidson WL45 Combination
A well-sorted Harley Davidson
Estimate
£12, 000 - £14, 000
Registration No: BSV 425
Frame No: IMT84024
MOT: Exempt
1941 Harley WL45 and vintage Steib S501 sidecar
Maintained and owned by a very passionate owner
In very good running order and used regularly
With a current V5C
Harley's 45 was named after its engine capacity in cubic inches. In 1937, it was revamped to create the W45. Harley’s L was factory code for high performance, but only produced about 25bhp. This WL45 was imported from the US in the 1980s and changed hands twice before being purchased by a Mr Sutton from Yorkshire, who planned to restore it as part of his collection. Due to ill-health, he sold the Harley to the present owner in 2011 and started a complete restoration in 2017, importing original parts from America and buying NOS from JW Boon in The Netherlands. The engine was stripped and the engine blueprinted and rebuilt by Matt’s Machine Shop in Wales, increasing the capacity to 900cc. Final assembly was completed in 2022. The Steib S501 was rescued from a salvage yard in 2018 and underwent a complete restoration, colour matched with the WL45 and attached in 2022.
The completed combo has been a reliable runner ever since. A hand clutch release mechanism has been added to assist in pulling away in first gear - the standard hand shift/ foot clutch remains operational for all gears. Offered with the V5C, this is a beautiful example and a reliable vintage combo that is guaranteed to turn heads.
