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Rare Motorcycle
This was in our local paper today and I thought some of you guys might find it interesting.
Fair revs up
Rare motorcycle among exhibits today
By Sarah Newell
Record Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
William Warren collects military vehicles. Two of them will be on display at the exhibit hall for the duration of the fair at the American Legion Fairgrounds, including a three-wheeled Harley Davidson motorcycle.
ROBERT C. REED (RECORD PHOTOGRAPHER)
HICKORY - Perhaps the rarest of all military vehicles will be on display at the Hickory American Legion Fair this week: A Harley-Davidson Flathead 1939 Model Servicecar. It is one of only six that was used in Hawaii during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
According to Hickory resident William Warren who owns the “motor-trike,” along with nine other restored military vehicles, Harley-Davidson was the main supplier of motorcycles to the military at that time. The U.S. Marine Corps ordered six of the vehicles for the Fleet Force Marines, who were moved to Pearl Harbor after turmoil began in the South Pacific, he said.
These three-wheeled motorcycles, which had a large, covered trunk area attached to the back of the seat, were used to move anything needed around the military base. The six at Pearl Harbor were some of the last used by the military, Warren said. Jeeps were beginning to be used by the military, and they were cheaper than the motorcycles.
The motorcycle Warren owns was found in Hawaii in the 1960s. Someone bought it to use the scrap parts in other Harley Davidson motorcycles. The man brought it back to California, where it sat in a warehouse for several years, Warren said, before a friend of his saw it.
“I have a friend that knew I collected military vehicles, and he told me about it in 2005. I did a lot of research about the three-wheeled Harley Davidson motorcycle - they only made a few hundred in 1939 - and knew that it was real,” Warren said. “I decided I had to have it. It’s the only one that I know of that still exists out of those six that were at Pearl Harbor.”
Warren had the motorcycle shipped to him, where he rebuilt it from the ground up. The restoration took more than eight months, with parts from all over the world. The engine was rebuilt by Steve LeMay of Virginia, who specializes in restoring rare motorcycles.
Since then, the motor-trike has been in several military and bike shows, and even won for best antique at the Myrtle Beach Bike Rally. Warren’s also enjoyed driving it around, although he admits it’s not the easiest thing to drive.
He said he wanted the motorcycle to be on display during the fair to honor veterans.
“I have a lot of friends who are veterans, and I wanted to do something to honor them,” Warren said.
The motorcycle is in the exhibit hall, along with a 1943 Jeep and two mannequins in authentic military apparel. The fair runs today through Monday.
Fair revs up
Rare motorcycle among exhibits today
By Sarah Newell
Record Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
William Warren collects military vehicles. Two of them will be on display at the exhibit hall for the duration of the fair at the American Legion Fairgrounds, including a three-wheeled Harley Davidson motorcycle.
ROBERT C. REED (RECORD PHOTOGRAPHER)
HICKORY - Perhaps the rarest of all military vehicles will be on display at the Hickory American Legion Fair this week: A Harley-Davidson Flathead 1939 Model Servicecar. It is one of only six that was used in Hawaii during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
According to Hickory resident William Warren who owns the “motor-trike,” along with nine other restored military vehicles, Harley-Davidson was the main supplier of motorcycles to the military at that time. The U.S. Marine Corps ordered six of the vehicles for the Fleet Force Marines, who were moved to Pearl Harbor after turmoil began in the South Pacific, he said.
These three-wheeled motorcycles, which had a large, covered trunk area attached to the back of the seat, were used to move anything needed around the military base. The six at Pearl Harbor were some of the last used by the military, Warren said. Jeeps were beginning to be used by the military, and they were cheaper than the motorcycles.
The motorcycle Warren owns was found in Hawaii in the 1960s. Someone bought it to use the scrap parts in other Harley Davidson motorcycles. The man brought it back to California, where it sat in a warehouse for several years, Warren said, before a friend of his saw it.
“I have a friend that knew I collected military vehicles, and he told me about it in 2005. I did a lot of research about the three-wheeled Harley Davidson motorcycle - they only made a few hundred in 1939 - and knew that it was real,” Warren said. “I decided I had to have it. It’s the only one that I know of that still exists out of those six that were at Pearl Harbor.”
Warren had the motorcycle shipped to him, where he rebuilt it from the ground up. The restoration took more than eight months, with parts from all over the world. The engine was rebuilt by Steve LeMay of Virginia, who specializes in restoring rare motorcycles.
Since then, the motor-trike has been in several military and bike shows, and even won for best antique at the Myrtle Beach Bike Rally. Warren’s also enjoyed driving it around, although he admits it’s not the easiest thing to drive.
He said he wanted the motorcycle to be on display during the fair to honor veterans.
“I have a lot of friends who are veterans, and I wanted to do something to honor them,” Warren said.
The motorcycle is in the exhibit hall, along with a 1943 Jeep and two mannequins in authentic military apparel. The fair runs today through Monday.
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Pilus Posterior
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Hey thats pretty cool for a Harley!
Power 2 the pedal
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That's quite a cool piece of history. I've never heard of the trike in a military model before.
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Official thread derailer
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Very cool! I absolutley love classic bikes.
Proud member of Wristtwisters, where we drill things the right way.
Legatus Legionis
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These three wheelers were also used in the early 50's by local police departments. My town had a few of them.
I am BATMAN!!!
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Very neat, thanks !
"He was a wise man who invented Beer"--Plato
not cro-magnon
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Looks like the Good Humor ice cream truck, only green. No I'm not that old...I saw it on Leave It To Beaver!
"Gentlemen. You can't fight in here. This is the War Room." - President Merkin Muffley
9-5-4, 9-2-9, means 9-1-9
2007 Suzuki GSXR-750
Very nice. I would love to hear it run.
2005 Honda 919
If you bite the hand that feeds you, it won't taste as good as the food you were fed.
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Official thread derailer
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funny guy...it's a Harley!Proud member of Wristtwisters, where we drill things the right way.
Chuck Norris has lost in battle with this Member
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I hear rumblings that Mike's next bike with have 3-wheels?
Discen
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The Yonkers Police Dept. used Harley trikes in the '60s and I am old enough to remember them.
Pilus Posterior
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Rep Power: 1 Quote:
Originally Posted by FJR919
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The Yonkers Police Dept. used Harley trikes in the '60s and I am old enough to remember them.
Heavy Metal
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i've got the lump out of a military 43 hd servi in the 69 servi car my uncle is riding around on as i type this...he loves this ride cause there's no pu$$y button 
if u don't kick it
it don't git it...
if u don't kick it
it don't git it...
Mc 9er
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interesting article phast,thanks
c 9ersilver,the fasted colour
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