1942 Knucklehead and 1959 Panhead

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Kevin had a blast at the Baas Metalcraft bike show. You can see his excitement as he reviews the 1942 Knucklehead and the 1959 Panhead. The feeling is infectious. This is Kevin in his element. He loves meeting other bikers that share his passion for classic Harley Davidsons. The history and the stories. The camaraderie between riders, family, and friends, both old and new. These motorcycles are a living part of our American history.

Kevin introduces us to Jim Koskovich and his 1942 Knucklehead. A rare and highly sought after Harley Davidson. Even more rare to see this motorcycle being ridden on the street as opposed to sitting on display inside the walls of a museum. The 61 cubic inch E, ES, & EL models were the follow up to the highly produced and long utilized Flathead V-Twin engines.

The Flatheads were a side-valve design. They were very under-powered in comparison to the Knucklehead’s new overhead valve design. While the new 61 E series models included a number of new innovations when it was first introduced in 1936, it was the motorcycle’s distinctive engine design that gave it an unmistakable appearance and unforgettable nickname: The Knucklehead.

In 1940, the EL and ES production totaled 4,069 units. In 1943, production fell to only 158 motorcycles. By 1947, production had finally rebounded to 4,354 EL and ES models. 1948 saw the sunset of the Knucklehead and the dawn of the Panhead.

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Even before the United States entry into the second world War, Harley Davidson’s civilian motorcycle production had become very limited. With the onset of war in 1942, civilian motorcycle production had almost completely halted. However, Harley Davidson managed to build a small number of motorcycles for civilian use, the 1942 Knucklehead. These model-year civilian Knuckleheads are famously uncommon. The most rare being the E model bikes with their 61 cubic inch, medium compression engines. According to the Harley Davidson Data Book 1903-1996, only 164 units were produced.

Jim Koskovich is the third owner of his 1942 Knucklehead. He purchased this motorcycle in the 1980’s. The tins are still unrestored. This is the motorcycle’s original paint!!