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1942 WLA Flat Head

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Old Aug 4, 2008 | 06:35 PM
  #1  
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Default 1942 WLA Flat Head

H-D produced a 1942 bike called the WLA Flat Head. It was olive drab in color, and evidently made for the Military. It had a rifle holster on the right-hand side\\; all controls were foot operated. My question is: What does the WLA stand for? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
 
Old Aug 4, 2008 | 06:51 PM
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Old Aug 4, 2008 | 06:59 PM
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Default RE: 1942 WLA Flat Head

Here is my best guess. The "W" was the designation they gave to the 45 c.i. engine starting in 1937. The "L" indicated the high compression sport model (possible derived from the&nbsp\\;Linkert Carburetor?) and "A" indicated the Army version. There was also a "C" version for the Canadian army.&nbsp\\;
 
Old Aug 4, 2008 | 07:29 PM
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Default RE: 1942 WLA Flat Head

But have you ever seen a 1943 WLA? &nbsp\\;
 
Old Aug 4, 2008 | 07:53 PM
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Default RE: 1942 WLA Flat Head

I saw this one 2 weeks ago
 
Old Aug 4, 2008 | 08:00 PM
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Default RE: 1942 WLA Flat Head

My dad used to have one when I was little except his had solid wheels and he said it was a sand bike built for the war in Africa.
 
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