B.W.A.: 1942 Harley WLA Is a Battle-Ready Badass

Rough-and-ready military-spec Harley helped allies win WWII.

Three years before the attack on Pearl Harbor that prompted the United States to enter World War II, Harley-Davidson, Indian and even Delco were hard at work developing new motorcycle designs for the U,.S. military. Harley prepared two models, based on the Flathead and Knucklehead; Indian modified their Scout and Chief designs, and Delco entered the fray with a reverse-engineered BMW R71 copy.

The WL Flathead-based model won the day, and the U.S. Army ordered 745 units. The WLA, as it was called (the “A” for “Army”), did so well that almost 90,000 Harleys would be built for the war effort, used by British, South African, Chinese and Soviet forces.

This original WLA model differs from standard civilian WL Flatheads with its improved oiling system and oil bath air cleaner, designed to keep the bike running in rough wartime conditions with a minimum of maintenance.

With tens of thousands of these bikes scattered throughout the world after the war – and an entire generation of restless young men trying to find their way in peacetime — many of these models would be cut up and modified into customs. Motorcycle clubs and outlaw biker gangs sprouted up seemingly everywhere, building the Harley pop culture legend as we know it today.

Unlike many of its highly-customized brethren, this WLA, which is being offered at Mecum’s Las Vegas sale from June 1-3, has been painstakingly restored to service condition. Its blackout lights, ammo boxes, material carrier, and oil bath air cleaned remain intact, with a fresh paint job.

Forgoing the urge to over-restore a utilitarian machine such as this, many parts of the bike show usage wear typical of military service. We think it looks just right, and we wouldn’t change a thing.

Cameron Vanderhorst

Cam VanDerHorst has been a contributor to Internet Brands' Auto Group sites for over three years, with his byline appearing on Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Corvette Forum, JK Forum, and Harley-Davidson Forums, among others. In that time, he's also contributed to Autoweek, The Drive, and Scale Auto Magazine.

He bought his first car at age 14 -- a 1978 Ford Mustang II -- and since then he’s amassed an impressive and diverse collection of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, including a 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Mystic Cobra (#683) and a classic air-cooled Porsche 911.

In addition to writing about cars and wrenching on them in his spare time, he enjoys playing music (drums and ukulele), building model cars, and tending to his chickens.

You can follow Cam, his cars, his bikes, and his chickens at @camvanderhorst on Instagram.

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