exactly, also usually not sold to public either, they may make changes improvements or even use cheaper components for a production model.

 

Let brother Webster also say his piece
Prototype Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

I didn't see anything in the definition about it not being sold to the public. Inventors almost always try to sell their first ideas for more money to throw back into the company. It's called raising capital or attracting potential investors with sales numbers. Even Harley-Davidson sold No. 1 even though they were a "small garage company."



I'm going to go with the factory here. Technically, they own the company that designed and built the first "Softail". Would you say that a Buell isn't a Harley-Davidson? just asking....

 

what's interesting is that in some states the police would "confiscate" the bike. '67 motor in an 81 frame (likely without any numbers), titled as a 67 would get it dragged into impound. Then prove what you have isn't a chop shop special.

that said, good looking bike, I always loved the gen shovels

 

The title:
"1967 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAIL PROTOTYPE"

This title implies that in 1967 Harley Davidson created, in their factory, a prototype of the Softail frame using one of their current drivelines for propulsion.

The bike was not built in 1967

Harley Davison did not build it

It was not called a Softail

We are taking about a prototype of a custom frame, not a motorcycle

I have seen these frames in the wild, former dealership on the Island had one with a hotrod Evo motor in it. He never called it a Harley, always by the frame manufacturers name. The whole point is that it was his frame, BEFORE the MoCo bought him out.

I stand by my statements, subterfuge to generate unwarranted high bids at an auction implying HD had anything to do with that motorcycle. Advertise it for what it is, not what it isn't.

 

Exactly @Architect great point, and if you read the supercycle magazine in the auction from that era, another company Santee, actually owned the Softail name and according to the article HD used it anyway without compensation hopefully it was rectified.

This frames were more like Yamaha’s Monoshock, then the Original Softail, which I like a lot more then the M8 no Dyna, everything’s looks the same version

 

Sematics ... Tomato vs Tomato

 

Harley should bring back this style rear fork swing arm.

 

Cool bike…would love to own it. I think its a stretch to call it a Harley Davidson Softail prototype but if I were the seller I would call it that too…lol.

 

The concept has been around a while

 

FWIW, here`s H-D`s first version of putting the shock under the frame
( Nothing new under the sun)