1958 Panhead
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,490
Likes: 3,688
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
This from a 1958 model.
That said, I believe you have good numbers there. All the other numbers and lettering appears consistent. I will see if I can dig up a pic with the "9" in your pic. There is a forum member, SpeedingBigTwin who checks in here from time to time. He is very good on the numbering stuff.
The biggest problem is that I cant keep it. I don't have the knowledge of the bikes of that era to keep up with it. My guess is that, and a 2004 Fat Boy will be magically turned into a new bike for the wife.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 695
Likes: 394
From: Western Australia
gunslingersnation, welcome to the forum. I cant see anything wrong with your serial number (SN) and all characters look the usual factory types for an early-59 Pan. SNs for 59 Pans began at 1001 and went beyond 6600 but I dont know what the highest was.
Your year 5 and 9 are the types Id expect for early-59 and heres another example of them.
But later on the year 5 changed to a slightly different style. The year 9 also changed, going from the straight-back type to a round-back style.
In the sequence portion I have no evidence yet of the 5 and 9 changing and they seem to have continued to be the types in your photo.
F, L and H are all certain sans serif types and look good for 1959for example, notice the lower horizontal stroke of the F is only a bit shorter than the upper stroke.
Notice the 1 has certain types of serifs.
Your 4 is a certain style having an open top, a curved left stroke and a fairly wide (long) serif across the base.
Are you familiar with belly numbers (BNs)? If not, you may find them stamped under each crankcase half near the outer edges and somewhat toward the front. BNs are also called crankcase production numbers, line-bore numbers and confidential numbers. Often for 59 Pans the BNs begin with 159 but with your bike they could begin with 158 because the SN is early-59. Heres an example of where to look:
Because your SN is FLH you may find a certain style of Hs stamped on top of the cases near the rear engine mounting bolts. (If it was FL then Id expect 7s instead of Hs.) Originally for 59 model Pans there was a regulator bracket bolted there and it covered the Hs but I havent looked at all your other pictures so Im not sure if the bracket is present?
Eric
Your year 5 and 9 are the types Id expect for early-59 and heres another example of them.
But later on the year 5 changed to a slightly different style. The year 9 also changed, going from the straight-back type to a round-back style.
In the sequence portion I have no evidence yet of the 5 and 9 changing and they seem to have continued to be the types in your photo.
F, L and H are all certain sans serif types and look good for 1959for example, notice the lower horizontal stroke of the F is only a bit shorter than the upper stroke.
Notice the 1 has certain types of serifs.
Your 4 is a certain style having an open top, a curved left stroke and a fairly wide (long) serif across the base.
Are you familiar with belly numbers (BNs)? If not, you may find them stamped under each crankcase half near the outer edges and somewhat toward the front. BNs are also called crankcase production numbers, line-bore numbers and confidential numbers. Often for 59 Pans the BNs begin with 159 but with your bike they could begin with 158 because the SN is early-59. Heres an example of where to look:
Because your SN is FLH you may find a certain style of Hs stamped on top of the cases near the rear engine mounting bolts. (If it was FL then Id expect 7s instead of Hs.) Originally for 59 model Pans there was a regulator bracket bolted there and it covered the Hs but I havent looked at all your other pictures so Im not sure if the bracket is present?
Eric
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,490
Likes: 3,688
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
Smashing, Eric comes through again. Yes!
Gunslingernation, great news for your bike. You have the biggest issue/question answered.
As far as pricing goes, it really seems to vary be region and State. Dollar pricing here is different than in Australia. Southern California you see a Pan custom advertized for up to 12K (American $$); San Francisco Bay Area they seem to go from around 7.5K up to around 10K.
GLWS
Gunslingernation, great news for your bike. You have the biggest issue/question answered.
As far as pricing goes, it really seems to vary be region and State. Dollar pricing here is different than in Australia. Southern California you see a Pan custom advertized for up to 12K (American $$); San Francisco Bay Area they seem to go from around 7.5K up to around 10K.
GLWS
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Knucklemedown
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