Property of a deceased's estate, 1942 Harley-Davidson 750cc WLC Project

Engine no. 42WLC279 (plus 2794 and BW106711 - see text)

• Wartime Canadian-built military model
• Purchased at a Ministry of Supply auction in 1947 and dismantled
• Loosely assembled
• Offered for restoration

Introduced in 1929 as a competitor to Indian's successful 750cc 'flat head' (sidevalve) v-twin, the Harley-Davidson Model D - better known as the '45' (its capacity in cubic inches) - really took off when the USA's entry into WW2 created an unprecedented demand for military motorcycles. Around 90,000 of the WL (military) version had rolled off the Milwaukee production lines before hostilities ceased, and the Harley '45' saw action in just about every theatre of war. De-mobbed Harleys helped meet the upsurge in demand for motorcycles in the immediate post-war years, doing much to establish the marque's reputation worldwide.

This Canadian-built WLC Military Model served with the Canadian National Defence Force and was used on an air base in Oxfordshire, taking aircrew and engineers around the base, hence the very low recorded mileage of 486. On 18th July 1947 the Harley was purchased at an auction in Reading held by Simmons & Sons (who were acting for the Ministry of Supply) by RAF Flight Sergeant Martin Stevens, an aircraft mechanical engineer and motorcycle enthusiast. The purchase price was £57 10s. Flight Sergeant Stevens rode the machine straight back to his home in Buckinghamshire where he and his friend dismantled it so that they could re-spray it in non-military colours. However, they never got round to this and the bike remained in pieces in the barn (see photograph on file).

Martin's family were aware of the Harley but it almost became mythical, with no one actually seeing it until after Martin's death almost 70 years later. The bike was left to his nephew, Raymond Biggs, who shared Martin's passion for motorcycles. Raymond had hoped to rebuild the bike himself but sadly it would be a project that was never completed. The machine is currently loosely bolted together and comes with its original rack, which in itself is an extremely rare item.

Accompanying documentation includes the original bills of sale from Simmons & Sons Auctioneers and the Ministry of Supply, all dated 18th July 1947. Additionally, the bike comes with an original running and adjusting instruction manual.

The vendor advises us that they have spoken to a well-known classic military vehicle enthusiast (who owns several of these machines) who confirms that it was normal practice to have an engine re-stamp. However, there is no documentary evidence to support this. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's authenticity, originality, completeness and condition prior to bidding (close inspection advised).
Offered without key