1947 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SERVI-CAR

Introduced in 1932, this three-wheeler remained in production for 42 years with modifications. The Servi-Car, as its name suggests, was planned and manufactured as a service vehicle. In addition to its use as a road assistance vehicle in many automobile companies for many years, it was very popular in police services in the United States.

Manufactured in the Harley-Davidson factory in Juneau Avenue in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Servi-Car was produced in five different models after its introduction in 1932. These included the G (small trunk, tow bar), GA (small trunk, no tow bar), GD (large trunk, no tow bar), GDT (large trunk, tow bar), GE (large trunk, air tank). The model in our Museum has no tow bar. However, the model G and its trunk with curved rear are a special design not used in the United States. In the original production, the rear panel was designed to be flat for inscribing names, logos, phones and promotions.

Servi-Cars have features different from all other Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Driven by chain, they feature 3-speed and reverse geared automobile-type transmission, differential and larger batteries. The single engine was 45.28 cu.in. in the Model R from 1932 to 1936, with a V-Twin Flathead in the Model W in 1937.

The Servi-Car, which ceased production in 1974, continued to be used by the U.S. police into the 1990s. 1947, the year of our Model G, is also the year when the classic Harley-Davidson black leather motorcycle jackets were first sold.