1942 Harley-Davidson WLA Engine Still in Original Crate Lands on eBay
A valuable historical artifact, this classic Harley-Davidson crate engine was produced for the war effort, and now it’s going for $13,500.
Remember at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark, where the Ark of the Covenant is seen being stuffed into the deepest depths of a secret government warehouse, never to be seen again? We have to imagine that this crate must have been pretty close by. That’s the only way we can explain how a Harley-Davidson WLA crate engine has sat unopened lo this many years.
Barn Finds was tipped off to the astonishingly well-preserved engine by one of their readers. Currently, it’s on eBay with a $13,500 Buy It Now price. That’s a lot of money for an engine, but for a piece of history, it’s a small price to pay.
The WLA was, of course, the classic WWII-era military Harley-Davidson motorcycle produced as part for the war effort. Many tens of thousands of WLAs were produced, and, like the men who rode them to victory, many of them were adapted to civilian use after the war. This, of course, gave birth to chopper culture and the “outlaw motorcycle culture” as we know it.
As a result, the Harley-Davidson WLA is one of the most significant and historically important motorcycles ever produced. This engine, preserved in its original crate since 1942, is one of the most incredible artifacts of Harley history we’ve ever seen.
The seller was nice enough to remove a few panels of the wooden crate, exposing the engine to our view and allowing us to see it as it was back in 1942. There are some tags and accessories included to fully assemble the engine before installing it into a frame. A water-resistant waxed cardboard box contains the carburetor assembly.
Everything in the crate is fresh and new, save for some minor flash-rusting on a few of the fasteners. While it would be tempting to remove the engine and install it in a frame, we’d keep it crated. Not only is it worth more that way, but it’s a great way to display this amazing piece of history, preserved for generations.
Photos: eBay
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