A Rare and documented 1967 Shovelhead is going up for auction at a casino in Vegas in January. It is blacked out, looks like a HD Bad Boy, and a HD Sturgis model combined. It has a Rear Mag wheel, and front spoked rim, drum front brake and a rear disc. Chain drive, and the original Softail frame. Anybody wants to Hazard a guess at what this will go for when the gavel strikes?

1967 Harley-Davidson Softail Prototype | R200.1 | Las Vegas 2022 (mecum.com)

 

This article/listing is total BS. No such thing ever came from the factory. Frame was designed by an independent, late 70's/ early 80's. Then patent was bought by the MoCo.

Though a good enough looking bike, it is a BITSA bike with parts form lots of different years. No provenance at all, just a custom bike made form HD parts form many different years. Anything else stated about it being documented or a factory prototype is subterfuge.

Buyer beware.

 

This "Mecum" Auction bike is a well-documented prototype from the company that invented the Softail frame. It is 1 of 36. It was Originally called the Road Works Sub-Shock frame. Harley-Davidson bought the company, and still makes the Softail frame today.... That was all in the link documentation if you bothered to read it before commenting.

I wouldn't mind parking it in my garage....

We now revoke your HD Forums "Member of the Month" award...lol!

 

Yep. 1st Softail by Harley was 1984.
I've seen pics of that proto type. I hope the inventor
didn't get screwed on that deal. Harley has sold one
or two Softails over the years.

 

Pretty big stretch calling that a 1967, or a prototype, or even a softail frame.
Not to say it’s not neat or even a little historical but it’s none of the above.

I read some of the history on the development the guy that invented the frame, was ignored for sometime and I think Willie G. Finally reached out and struck a deal for the patent and rights, at the time I believe he got royalties on the first 100,000 frames built, the guys Lawyer suggested signing this quick before HD changes their mind, no one thought that they would ever build that many bikes,
HD was still not in great shape, having to get over the late AMF years of poor quality and Jap bikes holding every segment of the market.
The Evo and all the Softails IMO is what put them back up on top for heavy cruiser

 

I think what is confusing everyone is the fact that a 1967 Driveline was inserted into a Road Works Sub-Shock frame sometime in the late 70's or very early 80's. The drive line defines the motorcycle as it follows what the title says. As Road Works stated in their product line at that time, any engine from 1936 to (then) present day was compatible. The frame was, as is still common today, sold with an MSO. There were exactly 36 of them in different specifications made before Harley-Davidson bought the company which then became absorbed into Harley-Davidson effectively making it a Harley-Davidson product. This one was titled as a 1967 Harley-Davidson FLH Serial #13027 in a then, Road Works Sub-Shock frame. (Future Subsidiary of Harley-Davidson Mo Co.)

I think it IS fair to call it a prototype since there were only 36 of them made and even fewer examples survive today. I would hate to be the guy who parted one of these out and discarded the frame...lol!

I am going to try and make it to the auction, and I will post the selling price when sold.

 

I've heard/read how this bike was made, and the creation of the softail frame...... I believe you have that correct....


However, I'm not sure it's fair to call it a prototype.... Prototype of what.....???

Just because it's a Harley driveline, dated and licensed as a 1967 Harley, doesn't make it a 1967 Harley Softail prototype.... that's all pure marketing...

The Prototype was made by Road Works before Harley bought the company.... So I guess it could be called a 70's Road Works prototype, with a '67 Harley driveline...

In any case, it's an admittedly rare and important (to any Harley lover, collector, aficionado) motorcycle...

I suspect it could bring a pretty penny at auction......

 

When a Company is bought out, their product is assumed in its entirety, all patent rights, Advertising rights, Liability and Warranties past and present are absorbed by the new buyer. They can change the name, as in this case from Sub-Shock to Softail but the new owner gets the whole shebang as Owner in Whole of the bought-out brand. The fact is that this bike IS titled as a Harley-Davidson and is very well documented. This may be splitting hairs here. Whether it's a prototype of the Harley-Davidson Softail or not will be up to the new buyer. So, just saying....

 

Prototype usually means pre production, this was a small garage company and the frame was sold as such, 36 is not many, the frame is normally what’s used for the title, back in the old days the engine case might have been the only stamped part but in this case I guess they got away with it. Wouldn’t fly today especially in NYS
COA has it as a 1981
I could put 1970 454 big block in my 2018 Camaro and it’s not considered a 1970 right?
I don’t think it’s malicious intent on the auction copy, just a little confusing most likely someone trying to get all the elements checked in.

 

Prototype as a Noun and Verb

Prototype Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com