The Harley Davidson ‘45’ flathead small V twin motor was one of the longest lived motors in company history, introduced in 1929 with the last one installed in a ServiCar in 1973. They weren’t a tower of power, but they were much the most reliable motor the company made for over 40 years. They simply started and ran in all conditions. The W in the name was the designation for the 45 CID flathead, the L meant ‘High Compression’ (4.75:1 one of the reasons they ran so well and so long) and an A designation was for Army.
The 1947 Harley Davidson WL used a 45 CID (742 CC) air cooled four stroke side valve V-Twin motor that produced 21 HP. The side valve head with it’s incredible simplicity and low compression contributed greatly to the 45’s long life and ease of tuning. A three speed tank shifted transmission with a rigid rear and springer front suspension completed the package.
This particular 1947 Harley Davidson WL (VIN # 47E14369) that comes with a sidecar is in Fernly, Nevada and is listed as a totally restored less than 1300 miles ago. The bike has had extensive updates and upgrades including front disc brake, electric start, reverse, 12V electrics and more. Current bid is $9,200 with reserve not met