Five Things You Never Knew Harley-Davidson Made

Jan 14
2 min read

Updated: Jun 2

Even in its early days, Harley-Davidson Motor Company was more than just a motorcycle manufacturer. Some of their products might surprise you!

While Harley-Davidson is globally renowned for its motorcycles, the company has always been diverse in its offerings.

A 1905 letterhead listed products such as: ‘Motor Cycles,’ ‘Motor Cycle Motors,’ ‘Marine Motors,’ ‘Reversible Propellers,’ and ‘Automatic Float Feed Carburettors.’ The company's ability to adapt and meet customer needs has been a cornerstone of its business model for over a century. Here are five items you might not know Harley-Davidson produced:

1. Forecar

Harley-Davidson's initial three-wheeled vehicle, the Forecar, was designed for commercial deliveries. It could carry up to 272 kg and was used to transport various items, from mail to groceries.

The Forecar featured a standard Harley-Davidson® twin-cylinder chain drive motorcycle, with the front fork and wheel replaced by a delivery box mounted on two front wheels connected to the steering head. It was manufactured for three years (1913 to 1915) and came in a single model.

2. Overgreen Lawnmower Engines for Worthington Mower Company

In 1929, Harley-Davidson started providing single-cylinder side-valve engines to power Overgreen model lawnmowers. Charles Worthington invented the large commercial mower to maintain grass on the newly emerging professional golf courses. During the Great Depression, Harley-Davidson supplied engines to the Worthington Mower Company. During this time, various other ideas were tested, including an earth tiller powered by a Harley-Davidson® small engine.

3. Utilicar

Building on the success of their model D golf car, Harley-Davidson introduced the Utilicar for the 1966 model year. Two versions were available: an electric model for indoor factory use and a gasoline model capable of reaching 52 km/h for outdoor use. The Utilicar had a payload capacity of 340 kg. Five different cargo configurations were offered: flatbed, steel cargo box, stake box, cargo stake box, and personnel carrier. An optional fiberglass cab enclosure was also available.

4. LR-64 Drone Rocket Engine

Initiated through the AMF merger, Harley-Davidson produced the LR-64 engine for the U.S. military for nearly three decades. The engine powered the AQM-37A Supersonic target drone, which was used to simulate incoming intercontinental ballistic missile attacks during jet fighter training exercises.

5. Tomahawk Boats

In 1961, Harley-Davidson acquired the Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Company in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. The company needed fiberglass manufacturing capabilities to produce golf car, Servi-Car, and sidecar bodies, as well as motorcycle fairings and saddlebags. Various boat lengths and versions were produced, ranging from a 3.35-meter fishing model to a 5.50-meter pleasure craft, with both inboard and outboard engine configurations available. Harley-Davidson continued producing Tomahawk boats until 1965.