LOT 633

From The Warr's Harley-Davidson Collection 1970 Harley-Davidson 883cc XLH 'Boat Tail' Sportster Registration no. VDH 128H Frame no. 3A10142H0 Engine no. 3A10142H0

Sold for £10,350 inc. premium

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Lot 633

From The Warr's Harley-Davidson Collection, 1970 Harley-Davidson 883cc XLH 'Boat Tail' Sportster
Registration no. VDH 128H Frame no. 3A10142H0 Engine no. 3A10142H0

The Spring Sale - The International Classic MotorCycle Show|23 April 2022, 10:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

From The Warr's Harley-Davidson Collection
1970 Harley-Davidson 883cc XLH 'Boat Tail' Sportster
Registration no. VDH 128H
Frame no. 3A10142H0
Engine no. 3A10142H0

• Rare optional 'boat tail' seat/fender
• Highly original
• Unusual colour scheme
• Part of the Warr Collection since 2013

"Insiders knew that another overhead-valve twin was in the works, and that the new cylinders would be bolted to the K model bottom end. Hopes were not exceptionally high. But the doubters were all but dumbstruck when the XL showed up lean, mean and ready for the green." – Tod Rafferty, The Complete Harley-Davidson Encyclopedia.

The evocatively titled Sportster has been a permanent feature of the Harley-Davidson line-up since its arrival for 1957. Intended to compete with the sportier British parallel twins, and those offered by home-based rivals Indian, the XL Sportster was leaner and meaner than previous Harleys and boasted an all-new overhead-valve v-twin engine producing 40bhp. This new power unit went into the chassis of the Model K. Introduced in 1952, the 45ci Model K was Harley's final 'flat-head'. Almost a complete break with the past, the K had adopted ideas from Europe: unitary construction of the engine/transmission, swinging-arm rear suspension, foot operated gear change, and hand clutch, but despite better handling than its similar-sized predecessor, proved little faster. The arrival of the 883cc overhead-valve engine would change all that. Progressively improved and updated, the ever-popular Sportster remains Harley's top-selling model today.

Without question the 1970 Sportster's most talked about feature was the optional extended 'boat tail' combined seat and rear fender. Predictably, given the innate conservatism of Harley's target market, the 'boat tail' did not last long and was dropped at the end of 1971. Very rare and totally original, this 'boat tail' Sportster was owned by the US Harley-Davidson dealer O'Donahue for many years before joining the Warr collection in 2013, since when it has been kept in dry storage. Re-commissioning will be required before the machine returns to the road. Boasting an unusual and very attractive colour scheme and equipped with touring accessories, this beautiful 'boat tail' Sportster has a total of 9,572 miles on the odometer and is offered with a V5C Registration Certificate.
Offered with key

Footnotes

The vehicle registration number is VDA 128H.
All lots are sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding

Saleroom notices

The vehicle registration number is VDA 128H.

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