1945 Harley EL Knucklehead: Rare, Stunning War Era Survivor
 

1945 Harley EL Knucklehead: Rare, Stunning War Era Survivor
By Robert Bacon

Have you ever seen a 1945 Harley-Davidson EL in this condition?https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.hdf...8c9e0f3a49.png

So was this bike just produced in the last few months of 1945? After the war was over? I'm really curious as I though virtually all civilian industry was shut down?

Love those Knuckleheads!

its not a survivor its a restored bike and done in the era that chrome was acceptable - EL had no chrome

not the way they are restored today

To add to John's comments, 1945 would have no chrome except the rocker bolts. Wheels, oil tank, dash, spirals, horn, headlight trim etc for sure would all be black. I believe gray and black where the only color choices, no blue for sure until mid to late '46. Tank badges would be painted. It may be a 1945, but over restored a while back taking away from its value. Not original and not restored correctly, puts you in a weird void with value to collectors. That said, I would buy that and ride the wheels off of it.

Always know I'm going to learn something in the comments. But still curious about why it's a 45... I guess one of the first ones after they restarted civilian production?

if you knew someone ( in government ) not unlike the collage admissions thing that is going on now you could get a knucklehead civilian bike from Harley during the war - they and those who did that should have been shot

Civilian production began again near the end of 1945 but there were still Harleys being built during the war years, in limited numbers, for police and other specialty uses. For 1945, I think there were about 1400 knuckleheads and about 1300 BTSVs built. By far, the WLA made up the bulk of 1945 production but the government cancelled their contract for them, I believe, in early to mid 1945.