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my uncle passed away earlier this year and left behind a 1947 Knucklehead-based chopper. It's registered as a 1947 SPCN and has a 70's chop. Suicide Shift, etc.
It hasn't been ridden since the mid-80's, but it turns over and it's all there.
The engine is the most valuable part of that.
Tedd's Cycle offers a rolling chassis kit that powerplant would bolt in, era correct, and the value at that point, even though not original, would be MUCH more.
Scott
Depends on a lot of things...the motor is worth as much as the whole bike...anyone who buys it will most likely pull the motor and sell the rest, so you may get more money for it if you sell them separate. Is the motor all original 47 harley parts or a mixture of different years. I would check all the casting numbers on the jugs and heads and cases to see what you have. An S&S "knuckle" is almost 10k so an original should go for more. If the title was not SPCN it would be worth a lot more.
Sold my 46 knuck 6 months ago for $10 K I bought the engine/ tranny/ 48 orig pan frame in 71 for $300 Sad to see it go but at 72 oh well Restored it several times over the years the final was a stroker S&S 41/4 in wheels still kept the linkert carb (super carb ) Added a HD springer in 1999 new for $1600 bucks (I was a back street dealer for HD ) sportser gas tank This bike can be seen on the shovel forums under knuckleheads under J.P.'s page 1 Yes it was not orig in fact the left case was from a pre 41 knuck Replaced at an HD dealer in Milwaukee back in 69 (the front motor mount broke and took the case out ) and since the so called bottom numbers did not match the so called purists said hot bike well fork them I enjoyed the bike over the years and it went to a young guy that wants to restore it I loved that bike ! such is life
My dad just let me know we have what we believe was the original frame/wheels in the shed. I'll have to try and match them up
Wow that bike is a definite throwback to the early days of the 60/70 chopper era. Very cool looking.
Not sure what your plans are but the best way to figure out what you have (motor, tranny, frame, wheels etc) is to get a copy of Bruce Palmers book "How to Restore Your Harly Davidson" (2nd Ed). You can order direct from his wife. Its a C-note but well worth the money if you intyend to try and get it back to stock configuration or need to know what is correct.
Cool old bike! 1947 is the most common knuckle, they made a bunch of them. But with that being said, the engine if numbers are good is worth in the $6-8k range. Market is a bit soft now.
If my uncle left me a cool old scoot like that, I'd leave it just as it is and ride the hell out of it - in his honor.
Restored knucks are great but there's plenty of them. There's only one just like that one and your uncle probably put his heart and soul into building that bike.
How do you put a value on that?
Just a thought.
If my uncle left me a cool old scoot like that, I'd leave it just as it is and ride the hell out of it - in his honor.
Restored knucks are great but there's plenty of them. There's only one just like that one and your uncle probably put his heart and soul into building that bike.
How do you put a value on that?
Just a thought.
You make a good point; however, my uncle left some pretty explicit instructions right before he died He was rushed to the hospital and had about 18 hours there, he was able to sneak in a call to my dad where he said "I don't plan to die, but if I do, sell it all and split it 3 ways across the boys".
2 years ago he had his first heart attack. After he recovered I bought my chopper to ride with him. He also had a VStar which was his current motorcycle (already sold). We got in an epic ride over the 4th of july holiday last year with him and my younger brother
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Value? 1947 Chopper
