Harley-Davidson Classic Cars for Sale

American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson was founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by William S. Harley and the Davidson brothers: Arthur, Walter, and William. The company is best known for their patented version of the V-twin engine, creating a distinctive Harley-Davidson sound, and are credited with inspiring the "chopper" style of customized motorcycle.

Harley-Davidson: Over a century

Beginning with a single prototype in 1903, by 1920 Harley-Davidson was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, operating in 67 countries. Despite the "bad boy biker" image cultivated in the 1970s, police departments have been a significant market for the company since 1907, with later models designed specifically for police use, such as the Electra Glide FLHTP . Harley-Davidson also produced 20,000 motorcycles for military use during World War I and, as one of only two major American manufacturers to endure through the Great Depression, contributed over 90,000 more for World War II and subsequent campaigns before the Jeep succeeded as the military vehicle of choice. The company's reputation suffered in later decades due to layoffs and a 1969 strike, which led to a decline in the quality of their product. However, a change of ownership in 1981 and a focus on replicating the classic designs of old soon restored both quality and faith in the brand.

Harley-Davidson's Sportster line began production in 1957 and has continued into the 21st century as the usual choice for a first Harley. Though there have been numerous different models and variations over the years, the line remains visually archetypal of the American racing motorcycle. For its 50th anniversary in 2007 a limited edition model, the XL50, was released with a single run of 2000 individually numbered machines.

The Harley-Davidson community

As a brand, Harley-Davidson has amassed a loyal following. This was bolstered in 1983 when the company created the Harley Owners Group, so named for the acronym HOG which had long been a nickname for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The nickname stems from a successful racing group who would take a victory lap with their mascot, a live pig, when they won. They became known as the "hog boys", with the Harleys they rode eventually becoming associated with "hog". However, Harley-Davidson's attempt to trademark the nickname in 1999 came too late as it was determined that the word was already used too generically, referring to any large motorcycle.

In 1993, in celebration of the company's 90th anniversary, Harley-Davidson arranged a "Ride Home" to Milwaukee. This created a tradition every five years that is known affectionately as "Harleyfest", attracting enthusiasts for the brand from all over the world.