Harley-Davidson Forecar Has a Hidden Past

Early Days

Its tagline is a bit biblical. “From forty years of desolation...to forty years of restoration,” describes the last remaining 1913 Harley-Davidson Forecar 9G in a soon-to-be-released documentary. Walter: The Missing Link - Discovery of a Centennial Motorcycle promises to be comprehensive, but as of now, the early years of this rare three-wheeler are something of a mystery.

Photos courtesy of The Edge Ltd.

Old Streets

Premiering September 2, 2021, at the historic Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the documentary chronicles the life and times of 'Walter,' a delivery motorcycle that began its service on the streets of old Milwaukee. Described as an “extraordinary barn-find story,” the film is an eight-year endeavor from producer and director James Cutting, released by The Edge Ltd.

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Weak Point

The Forecar was Harley-Davidson's first venture into commercial motorcycles. Built only for two years, just over sixty examples were produced in 1913. Powered by the 8 horsepower, 61 cubic-inch F-head V-Twin, the Forecar was driven by a two-speed transmission with a chain final drive. A successful design on the 9E motorcycle, it proved to be a weak point on the 9G.

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Rattled Days

Walter's failed powertrain might have been its saving grace. The two-speed design was meant to help heavy bikes climb hills, but the weight of the Forecar was apparently too much and strained the engine in high gear. In 1915, one of Walter's wrist pins loosened and rattled a piston. The unfortunate event prematurely put an end to this Forecar's service days.

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Money Barn

Originally purchased by Milwaukee-based Lemke Electric in 1913, the Forecar was serviced by Joseph 'Ally' Schuster—a local mechanic. After the engine failure, Schuster bought the broken machine for $20—just over $500 in today's money. According to the narrative, the Forecar ended up in the Schuster's horse barn, only to be 're-discovered in 1964, but there were some unanswered questions.

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Inspiring Meeting

Records show that Walter has been titled in Montana and Florida, but that timeline is unclear. What is known is that the Schuster family of southeastern Wisconsin has owned Walter for nearly a century. Inspiration for the film began when Cutting met with Michael Schuster, Ally’s grandson, in 2013. It took another five years for the meticulous, decades-long, restoration to be completed.

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Central Part

As the last-known 1913 Forecar in existence, Walter is acknowledged as a motorcycle artifact. The delivery bike has yet another hidden twist. Only hinted at in the preview, Walter Davidson, one of the Motor Company's founders, is somehow connected to the Schuster family. To fund the film, Walter was sold to new caretakers and the transfer forms a central part of the documentary.

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Rare Journey

Parts of the film's shooting took place at Old World Wisconsin. Located near Eagle, in Waukesha County, the outdoor museum preserves a slice of early 19th-century Wisconsin life. The trailer for this rare machine can be found on YouTube. The secrets of the Forecar's incredible journey are yet to be revealed. Screening and ticket information is available from walterdoc.com.

>>Join the conversation about this rare and classic Forecar right here in HDForums.

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