1939 Harley-Davidson WLDD Is One Rare Racer
One of only 273 built, this WLDD was a half-year-only race bike for the street.
In the world of Harley-Davidson, most are familiar with the WLD model that launched back in 1937. The middleweight, side valve engine served as a replacement for the “D” model and quickly became the backbone of Harley’s engine lineup. The modified version, the WLA, even went on to serve both in World War II and in various police departments across the country.
But what many might not be aware of is the hotter, half-year-only race bike for the street known as the “WLDD” — and for good reason, because not much literature exists on the bike. Only 273 were thought to have been produced in 1939, and certainly only a handful of those still exist today, one of which is the bike you see here. We spotted the rare racer on eBay.
The WLDD added goodies like big fin cylinders with bigger intake ports and a larger manifold and intake valves to the standard WLD setup. And unlike the WLD, it also came with aluminum heads, becoming the first production road model to do so. The WLDD wasn’t offered until mid-1939, with production numbers beginning in the 2500 range.
The WLDD you see here isn’t 100% original, but thankfully the seller retained most of the original parts. It has a fresh engine and transmission, and is said to run well. With a little bit of work, it could certainly be a sound investment. Not to mention the preservation of a rare and underrated piece of Harley history. And that alone makes it worth saving.
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