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CVO Social => Other Topics => Topic started by: EZRIDN on September 18, 2008, 02:57:51 PM
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I found out something very interesting yesterday morning….This gal (Deb) that I work with stopped by and said their son-in-law, the one that her husband sold my old Sportster to…just sold it for a large sum of money (whatever that is)….to, get this, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. They were told it is one of the last, if not the last known, to be still in it’s original condition (except that I modified the exhaust [internally] when I owned it). Headed for the H-D museum in Milwaukee.
To think, I once owned a piece of legendary history……..1977 Sportster - Confederate Edition…only 242 were made. I think all we have is a couple pictures of it...and not sure where those are at the present time. It was bluish-grey light metallic and had the Confederate flag across the H-D script along the tank sides. Also had some gold piping/filigre looking stuff on the leading edge of the front fender. All in all very unique.
I was the second owner. I now can’t remember if I bought it in fall of 77 or fall of 78. The original owner had a premature baby & little/no insurance & they were selling off almost everything they had to cover the hospital bills…baby was still in IC. I do remember it was in November…cold/wet/rainy and I had been looking for another HD earlier that summer. I found it listed in the Sunday newspaper…long story short, when I stopped & looked at it later in the week..the guy said make an offer and I low-balled him and he took it. He was in a bind…I felt bad about taking advantage of the situation but, it was a deal I couldn’t pass on. Anyway, I rode it until I got hurt working construction in 82. Because of my injuries, I had to make a career change & the bike was kick start (now that I had a new/bad back) so I sold it in 1983 to some friends….ie: Dean & Debbie S. They had it for a few years & then sold it to their son-in-law who now just sold it to HD. I had asked Dean/Deb about it a few times over the years to see if the son-in-law would be interested in selling it back….anyway he sort of knew that it was a rare item and always said he was going to keep it. So now….the rest really is history.
I did some internet searches and didn't come up with much...did find the attached picture. Rumor has it that HD is buying up the Confederates because of the now "politically incorrectness" associated with them. They made 44 dressers & 228 glides as well. If you know of anyone that has one of the Confederates....tell them to keep it. I wish I had.
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...had the Confederate flag across the H-D script along the tank sides. Also had some gold piping/filigre looking stuff on the leading edge of the front fender. .... Rumor has it that HD is buying up the Confederates because of the now "politically incorrectness" associated with them.
INteresting. I was never aware of any such bikes from HD. I'm sure that rumour it true, but I'd be surprised if it ended up on display in a museum. It would be politically incorrect there, too.
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These are very rare bikes. Yes, HD is trying to buy them all back. If you ask them about this bike they will deny it every existed. I would love to know how much he got for it.
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I posted a color pic on another thread...a jack, can't remember where.
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try this
http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=27646.60
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INteresting. I was never aware of any such bikes from HD. I'm sure that rumour it true, but I'd be surprised if it ended up on display in a museum. It would be politically incorrect there, too.
Yeah, I'm sure it won't be on display either....just tucked away in a warehouse somewhere for another time/place. I have this vision of the warehouse looking very much like that one scene at the end of the old Raiders of the Lost Arc movie.
...the search continues for my old pics...will post if/when they surface.
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try this
http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=27646.60
Thanks....that was like posted just yesterday....that's almost too spooky/coincidental to the subject. :o
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Yeah, I'm sure it won't be on display either....just tucked away in a warehouse somewhere for another time/place.
From a historical perspective, I'd like to think that would be the case but I doubt it. More likely that HD will destroy them. Confederate symbols have been adopted by all kinds of hate groups. How long will that be true, and therefore when will those symbols be simple objects of history again? My answer would be a loong, loooooong time.
I wouldn't expect to ever see these bikes again.
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These are very rare bikes. Yes, HD is trying to buy them all back. If you ask them about this bike they will deny it every existed. I would love to know how much he got for it.
Kind of like Disney's "Song of the South"?
Interesting story about the Confederate bikes. A shame to ignore your history. It's not like it's a 3rd Reich bike with a swastika or something.
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I've seen "81" 's with those
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Hard to believe that HD Corporate would alienate a substantial geographic market share......
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Interesting story about the Confederate bikes. A shame to ignore your history. It's not like it's a 3rd Reich bike with a swastika or something.
I agree but I'm not in charge.
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It is actually a nice looking bike. Would love to see one in person.
Be Safe
THE DAWG
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looks like one of amf^s better creations if u ask me
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I just found this link to AIM Classic Online (http://www.caimag.com/wordpress/?p=1121[/url) about the Confederate Bikes.
"Hidden Harley - 1977 Harley Confederte Edition Motorcycle
1977 Harley Confederate Edition
To build sales and demand for its motorcycles, Harley-Davidson tried all sorts of limited edition motorcycle models over the years. And the Motor Company proudly displays and promotes most of them in the history books and museum. But one limited edition of Harley-Davidson is often left out - the Confederate Edition Harley-Davidson.
Only about 350 Harley Confederate Sportsters Were Ever Made
Some consider this rare model a last ditch attempt to sell motorcycles in the AMF years. But regardless of the reasons behind this rare Harley, the production numbers were low - reported to be 44 Harley Confederate FLHs, 228 Harley Confederate Super Glides, 299 Harley Confederate Sportster XLs, 45 Sportster XLCHs, and 15 Sportster XLTs.
What happened to this rare edition of Harley? Has it been hidden away due to political correctness? We hear there is a man in Virginia who is working on a National Registry of Harley Confederate dition motorcycles."
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I remember working on them but i haven't seen one in about twenty five years. axil
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I found out something very interesting yesterday morning….
That is very cool. As long as we’re doing trivia, the machine in your attached photo was Factory equipped with Yokahama tires; which by itself is pretty rare.
miker’s photo in reply #13 pictures a Confederate FXE with a black starter solenoid boot. As I remember it, these early black boots were pigmented with a conductive material called carbon black. This boot allowed current to pass from the B+ cable to the starter motor terminal, draining the battery over time.
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That's pretty cool if the bike does end up in the museum. I can't imagine them destroying them for any reason. I bet you wish you hung onto it to sell it to Harley yourself.