1943 Harley-Davidson WLC

The owner purchased this wonderful Harley Davidson WLC in 1994 and then spent the next couple of years restoring it to civilian trim. The engine was rebored and rebuilt it to the factory tolerance and everything else was either refurbished or replaced to the same standard.

All this hard work paid off because he was awarded the Best Pre-1950 Bike in the Vintage Section of the 1997 Harley Davidson Riders Club GB. It has still covered fewer than 5,000 miles since being restored, and while the vendor admits that the paintwork is not perfect, it is very good considering the best part of three decades have passed since it was painted.

Far, far more interesting than any modern sports bike, this is a machine that wears its heritage proudly and if you’re a reborn biker, it’ll likely to be much safer – and more dignified – than anything you have to crouch over in a set of tightly fitting leathers. Honestly, do yourself a favour and pootle around in complete comfort on this while you soak up your fellow man’s envy.

The paintwork looks terrific; not perfect but then the Harley is a bit like a Land Rover in that it wears a patina very well – and if it’s too patinated for your tastes then getting the fuel tank and mudguards resprayed isn’t going to break the bank, is it?

The leather saddle, with its eagle motif, is similarly worn, which is to say it’s nicely broken in and far more attractive than any brand-new replacement could ever be. Like the Brooks bicycle saddles we’re all familiar with, saddles like this need a bit of use to ease them into comfortable shape you need on a long trip.

Speaking of which, the saddlebags and chromed luggage rack could be very useful in helping turn the WLC into a machine you could tour on very easily if lightweight camping is your thing. (The rest of us would stuff the panniers with a set of spare underwear and a toothbrush and book into a decent B&B…)

The chromework is still all good, as are the lights and the gauges. The rebuilt 16-inch wheels are holding up very well too, and they’re fitted with good Avon tyres.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Yea, that’ll be the saddle and classic Harley dash then? Used for the best part of three-quarters of a century, the layout comprises a large speedometer flanked by two warning lights and a and a large, rotary ignition switch. Two chromed filler caps, one for oil and one for fuel, lie alongside.

A large dice forms the gearknob and there are running boards to set your feet on.

Really, what else do you need?

The engine was rebored and rebuilt it to the factory tolerance and the work included new valves, guides, and springs. The crankshaft was dismantled and the conrods and crank pins were replaced with all bearing outer shells that were professionally honed and fitted with the correct oversize rollers before the vendor rebuilt the crank assembly to within the 0.001”. He also raised the compression ratio to the civilian standard of 6:1.

The three-speed gearbox and clutch were rebuilt to same standard with many new parts used and everything, including the electrical ancillaries, were checked and reconditioned as necessary except the coil, which was replaced.

The wheels were rebuilt using stainless spokes, and the bearings and brake linings were all replaced together with the steering head bearings. A new, cloth-covered wiring loom and control cable were sourced and fitted together with period indicator lights. Those invoices he retained amount to over £8,000 for the parts alone.

But it was worth every penny. As you can see on the video, the meaty engine fires up straight away before settling into the lumpy idle we all know and love. It revs beautifully and by heck, there are few better noises than a Harley being gently revved, are there?

The Harley doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the motorcycle’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The Harley’s 1997 award comes with the machine, as does a service manual, a copy of How to Restore Your Harley Davidson by Bruce Palmer III, a spare parts catalogue, and a bunch of old receipts.

Valuing something like this is hard because there are so few similar sales to go on but we think the dust will settle at around the £11,000 to £15,000 mark, which seems like fine value to us for such an important and impressive machine, especially when you consider that the one we sold in November 2020 fetched £400 shy of twenty grand.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular bike is located with the vendor in Norfolk, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.