Harley K Sidecar for 1936 Vs

All flathead topics
Post Reply
DaveSwanson
Member
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:34 pm
Bikes: 1936 VLH, 1936 VD, 1956 FLH, 1956 KHK,
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 39 times

Harley K Sidecar for 1936 Vs

#1

Post by DaveSwanson »

I know enough about the K sidecar to fill a thimble, but that's more than I knew yesterday.

I have owned my 36 VD with sidecar for about 12 years. I never thought that much about the sidecar. All these years it had completely escaped me that HD would have had to come up with a 1 year version of the VL sidecar when they went to Abresh Body Company in 1936 after having Goulding make the bodies for so many years. The EL got the newly designed sidecar frame/mounts/wheels, and new tub. The Vs got the old sidecar frame, old mounts, V wheel/hub, and the new Abresh Body Co. tub.

Picture of the K sidecar from Palmer's

Image

So now I am asking about my sidecar. It seems to have everything that makes it a K except for my SN:

VL sidecar frame and mounts - yes
VL wheel, and hub - yes
Abresh Body Co. tub - yes
SN 34LT1870

Would HD have used a 1934 sidecar frame to build the 1936 K sidecar? What do you guys think?

Image

Image
1950Panhead
Senior Member
Posts: 2404
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:28 am
Bikes: 1950Panhead
Location: USA
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 366 times

Re: Harley K Sidecar for 1936 Vs

#2

Post by 1950Panhead »

You have a 1934 side car with an Abresh body.
Palmer says all the 45 side car bodies from 29 to 52 were made by Abresh.
Palmer does not say who made VL side car bodies.
DaveSwanson
Member
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:34 pm
Bikes: 1936 VLH, 1936 VD, 1956 FLH, 1956 KHK,
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 39 times

Re: Harley K Sidecar for 1936 Vs

#3

Post by DaveSwanson »

1950Panhead wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 12:45 am You have a 1934 side car with an Abresh body.
Palmer says all the 45 side car bodies from 29 to 52 were made by Abresh.
Palmer does not say who made VL side car bodies.
Correct, but the K sidecar obviously has an Abresh tub.
RUBONE
Moderator
Senior Member
Posts: 8378
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: Harley K Sidecar for 1936 Vs

#4

Post by RUBONE »

Dave,
The K sidecar was stamped and ID'd as such. The '34 LT frame is fine but not numbered correctly for the '36. Someone put it together, whether a period dealer or the first owner, but H-D did not. Is the body tag still in the tub?? Under the seat in front of the axle clearance.
DaveSwanson
Member
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:34 pm
Bikes: 1936 VLH, 1936 VD, 1956 FLH, 1956 KHK,
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 39 times

Re: Harley K Sidecar for 1936 Vs

#5

Post by DaveSwanson »

RUBONE wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 2:18 am Dave,
The K sidecar was stamped and ID'd as such. The '34 LT frame is fine but not numbered correctly for the '36. Someone put it together, whether a period dealer or the first owner, but H-D did not. Is the body tag still in the tub?? Under the seat in front of the axle clearance.
Nothing there but the 2 holes left behind. Makes sense that the tub was switched out at some point to make a faux K. The whys and wherefores will never be known.
DaveSwanson
Member
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:34 pm
Bikes: 1936 VLH, 1936 VD, 1956 FLH, 1956 KHK,
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 39 times

Re: Harley K Sidecar for 1936 Vs

#6

Post by DaveSwanson »

Now for a more accurate faux K all I need is the higher step. That will be as common as unicorn dung I am sure!

Image
Buddhahoodvatoloco
Site sponsor
Site sponsor
Senior Member
Posts: 1916
Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2011 8:43 pm
Bikes: 1969 FLF
1937 EL
1940 U
Location: san diego
Has thanked: 1475 times
Been thanked: 242 times

Re: Harley K Sidecar for 1936 Vs

#7

Post by Buddhahoodvatoloco »

I seen that step, exactly in a buddies stash.
let me see what he wants for it., or if he still has it. We never thought of looking in the Model "V"[,
Alrato,
ruben/b]
DaveSwanson
Member
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:34 pm
Bikes: 1936 VLH, 1936 VD, 1956 FLH, 1956 KHK,
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 39 times

Re: Harley K Sidecar for 1936 Vs

#8

Post by DaveSwanson »

Buddhahoodvatoloco wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 1:30 am I seen that step, exactly in a buddies stash.
let me see what he wants for it., or if he still has it. We never thought of looking in the Model "V"[,
Alrato,
ruben/b]


I'M ALL EARS!
Post Reply

Return to “Flathead and Servi-Car”