Hot Property: Barn-Find 1915 Harley-Davidson 11F
Vintage piece of Harley history is set to cross the auction block.
The allure of a good barn find is irresistible. Whatever you’re into – whether it be Harleys, vintage sports cars, classic trucks, or musclecars, the dream of finding a long-forgotten relic in a barn is a vivid fantasy we all share.
This 1915 Harley-Davidson Model 11F is seen here in as-found condition. It’s still wearing a thick layer of dirt, dust, and rust – a few decades’ worth, by our estimation.
It will be offered at the forthcoming RM Sotherby’s Auction in Hershey, Pennsylvania on October 5th and 6th. A big draw to this bike is that it’s in as-found condition. Not only will the buyer be picking up an important part of Harley history, they are buying into the barn find fantasy as well.
Underneath all of that patina, though, is a complete, largely original bike. It’s a potentially valuable tool for restorers and historians alike. Should the next owner choose to restore it to as-new condition, it appears that all of the parts are there to make the job a success.
Owning a vintage bike like this is like being a custodian of a historical artifact. It’s a bit like being the curator of your own private museum. While it’s fun to ride ancient hardware like this, it’s also a lot of fun to exhibit it at shows and concours events, collecting trophies and ribbons while sharing your little piece of history with the world.
We’d personally be just as tempted to leave it in as-found condition, with some careful cleanup work. We’d like to get it running, make it safe to ride, and show it off as an example of what motorcycling was like in the old days. As much as we like to polish our chrome, we like things that are imperfect and a bit rough around the edges, just like us.
