49 serial number question

VIN Identification
Post Reply
DanM
Former member
Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 2:18 pm
Bikes: 1913 HD single, 1926 HD JD, 1964 HD FL, 1994 Honda CT70
Location: Salem, NH
Has thanked: 1 time

49 serial number question

#1

Post by DanM »

What does the P mean: 49FL8651P. It is slightly raised up out of line from the other digits.

Thank you!
Cotten
Senior Member
Posts: 6937
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2002 2:30 am
Bikes: -
Location: Central Illinois
Has thanked: 112 times
Been thanked: 310 times

Re: 49 serial number question

#2

Post by Cotten »

Dan!

"Package truck", and it would have been produced with an offset spring fork.

....Cotten
HD48FL
Member
Posts: 127
Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:01 am
Bikes: Yep
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: 49 serial number question

#3

Post by HD48FL »

Was the "P" part of the vin?
Mr.Big
Member
Posts: 130
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2010 11:50 pm
Bikes: 1952 FL
Location: Texas
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: 49 serial number question

#4

Post by Mr.Big »

It's my understanding that it was not part of the VIN but to designate a bike that would be built with a springer front end for sidecar use.

Image
DanM
Former member
Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 2:18 pm
Bikes: 1913 HD single, 1926 HD JD, 1964 HD FL, 1994 Honda CT70
Location: Salem, NH
Has thanked: 1 time

Re: 49 serial number question

#5

Post by DanM »

That photo shows it exactly. I assume this was a fairly "rare" combination with 49 being first year of hydraulic fork?
Cotten
Senior Member
Posts: 6937
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2002 2:30 am
Bikes: -
Location: Central Illinois
Has thanked: 112 times
Been thanked: 310 times

Re: 49 serial number question

#6

Post by Cotten »

Dan!
Apparently solo models were also sent out with spring forks upon export models, but with no "P":
Sorry I have forgotten whom to credit for this,..
Sorry I have forgotten whom to credit for this,..
pricelist_belgium1.jpg (38.47 KiB) Viewed 3127 times
....Cotten
PS: I don't know how my '49 export model got back here to be buried behind an Indian dealership,... but that's my story.
HD48FL
Member
Posts: 127
Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:01 am
Bikes: Yep
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: 49 serial number question

#7

Post by HD48FL »

Mr.Big wrote:It's my understanding that it was not part of the VIN but to designate a bike that would be built with a springer front end for sidecar use.

Image
So you're saying it was stamped at the factory like that? Almost looks like something someone added during it's lifetime?
Cotten
Senior Member
Posts: 6937
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2002 2:30 am
Bikes: -
Location: Central Illinois
Has thanked: 112 times
Been thanked: 310 times

Re: 49 serial number question

#8

Post by Cotten »

HD48FL wrote: So you're saying it was stamped at the factory like that? Almost looks like something someone added during it's lifetime?
That's what they say, HD48FL.

I don't doubt it, but it means that my 50's Indian shop's dump barnfind without a P must be declared a re-patriated export!

....Cotten
RUBONE
Moderator
Senior Member
Posts: 8376
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:09 am
Bikes: Multiple H-D, Ducati, BMW, Triumph, BSA,...
Has thanked: 478 times
Been thanked: 2933 times

Re: 49 serial number question

#9

Post by RUBONE »

Not all the P stamping appears on the boss, a few examples show it on the case next to the boss.
When the Hydra-Glide fork made its debut the factory was not sure it would handle the side loads of a sidecar, whereas the springer was tried and true. ('49 forks had their own share of problems!) Transition models always have odd anomalies that are good for lots of discussion. And keep in mind that dealers also added and subtracted sidecars on their inventory. And as Cotten points out, the rules and features for export bikes differ, which adds another whole dimension. By 1950 H-D had tested the forks enough to offer them with sidecar bikes, but with the new adjustable rake trees, and the springer variation disappeared.
The '49 parts book helps with lots of the identification of the one year only features, they are available reproduction.
Robbie
Hog54
Inactive member
Senior Member
Posts: 817
Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 2:10 pm
Bikes: 1954 Panhead
1980 Lowrider
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 33 times

Re: 49 serial number question

#10

Post by Hog54 »

Theres one on ebay right now.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Flathead-Knuckl ... 4937622%26" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Post Reply

Return to “VIN”