Photo: bonhams.com
A very rare and equally superb early Harley-Davidson is coming up for auction on April 25, 2020, when, hopefully, the new Coronavirus crisis will have ended.
Bonhams has listed a 1916 Model J with Package Truck included, with expectations for it to fetch between £25,000 and £35,000 ($29,700 and $41,500). The seller stresses that the Harley “delivery van” is impeccable condition, which is also obvious in the photos included in the gallery above, and that a complete overhaul was undertaken in 2015-16.
The Model J with Package Truck was sold for new in 1916, one year after Harley-Davidson introduced the Package Truck. It was basically a commercial load-carrier used to deliver supplies and parts, and consists of a cargo container mounted on a sidecar chassis. It was a very successful Harley model that was would be produced for the next 42 years, until the Servi-Car came along.
This particular combination of Model J with Package Truck comes with a three-speed gearbox and the original electric lighting system offered on the first 1915 models. A Corbin speedometer and gorgeous embossed Harley-Davidson leather luggage set are part of the deal.
With a pale blue body and white wheels, the bike combo comes with brown leather seat – and the luggage set is a complete match in the same shade. Retro Harley-Davidson logos are printed on all four sides of the cargo container.
“Unusually, this machine retains its original and very rare Remy magdyno and its original ‘hand-blown’ headlamp bulb, the latter restored and in working order. We are advised by the vendor that only one other example retains its original electrical system,” Bonhams notes in the description of the listing.
A “last nut and bolt” restoration was performed in 2015 and 2016, which included re-plating all nickel brightwork, repainting the paneling and, perhaps more importantly, overhauling the engine and the rearbox. The Harley-Davidson sports sidecar, which was attached to the Model J in 1920, has also been restored.
“The combination also comes with a dating certificate and V5C document,” the auction house adds. The Harley-Davidson combination is in proper working order and “should require only minimal re-commissioning before taking to the road,” according to Bonhams. If you’re feeling particularly fancy about delivering or transporting goods.
The Model J with Package Truck was sold for new in 1916, one year after Harley-Davidson introduced the Package Truck. It was basically a commercial load-carrier used to deliver supplies and parts, and consists of a cargo container mounted on a sidecar chassis. It was a very successful Harley model that was would be produced for the next 42 years, until the Servi-Car came along.
This particular combination of Model J with Package Truck comes with a three-speed gearbox and the original electric lighting system offered on the first 1915 models. A Corbin speedometer and gorgeous embossed Harley-Davidson leather luggage set are part of the deal.
With a pale blue body and white wheels, the bike combo comes with brown leather seat – and the luggage set is a complete match in the same shade. Retro Harley-Davidson logos are printed on all four sides of the cargo container.
“Unusually, this machine retains its original and very rare Remy magdyno and its original ‘hand-blown’ headlamp bulb, the latter restored and in working order. We are advised by the vendor that only one other example retains its original electrical system,” Bonhams notes in the description of the listing.
A “last nut and bolt” restoration was performed in 2015 and 2016, which included re-plating all nickel brightwork, repainting the paneling and, perhaps more importantly, overhauling the engine and the rearbox. The Harley-Davidson sports sidecar, which was attached to the Model J in 1920, has also been restored.
“The combination also comes with a dating certificate and V5C document,” the auction house adds. The Harley-Davidson combination is in proper working order and “should require only minimal re-commissioning before taking to the road,” according to Bonhams. If you’re feeling particularly fancy about delivering or transporting goods.
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