Old Harley davidson - history begins part 3

World War II brought its own blessings, as well as a new milestone for the old Harley Davidson. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, the entire production capacity allocated to the Harley-Davidson motorcycles produced for the benefit of the Allied forces. The need for civilian consumers abandoned altogether. During 1941-1945, approximately 90,000 units of Harley-Davidson WML series are made. For this achievement, Harley-Davidson got the medal'' E'' of the United States Navy. After the war, Harley-Davidson re-opened the tap of its civilian production. Many veterans were interested in motor performance, and want to restore the romance of riding a Harley-Davidson. Thousands of Harley-Davidson unit, both the production after the war as well as older models, the veterans moved into the house, the forerunner of Harley-Davidson fans.

In 1948, Harley-Davidson production rates became 31,163 units. That year, Harley-Davidson introduced a new innovation, which is 74 cubic inch engine equipped with hydraulic valve lifters that and aluminum cylinder head. The Panhead engine was called because the cylinder head cover resembling the frying pan upside down. Entering the 1950s, second generation of the founding family began to become the motor of the company. When celebrating the 50th anniversary, Harley-Davidson lived alone in the American motorcycle market. Traditional rivals, Indian, had gone out of business. In 1957, Harley-Davidson introduced the Sportster, which is touted as the Father of Superbikes. A year later, Harley Davidson introduced the Duo Glide, which uses a hydraulic rear suspension to complement the front suspension fork model.