This charming, barn-find 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA is one of 50,000 or so produced for the military during World War II, but of that number surprisingly few have survived. Some of those have been restored to their original specification, and a small number are still in the “civilianized” form in which they were used after the cessation of hostilities when they were sold off as war surplus to a transport-hungry public. This 1942 WLA is in nearly complete condition and shows evidence of use, with a colorful paint scheme of red primer and camouflaged tanks. Harley-Davidson had been supplying motorcycles to the US Army since the 1910s, although on a limited basis in the 1920s, which gradually ramped up in the 1930s. The first WL series military motorcycle was delivered in 1937, the 37WL, and less than 60 were built. It was virtually indistinguishable from a civilian WL from that year. It was found in Tennessee in exactly this condition, and as the sheet metal and other parts are still correct for a WLA, it will make an easy restoration to military or civilian spec. Of course, in 1942, Harley-Davidson only produced machines for the military, and the WLA was the primary model with over 50,000 built. The WLA (A for Army) first appeared as a 1939 prototype, only two of which were built for testing. These differed from street models in their skirt- less fenders, skid plate to protect the crankcase, low-compression cylinder heads, speedometer with no trip meter, new air cleaner and other details which made it a far more suitable motorcycle for the rigors of military use. The first production WLAs appeared in 1940, but only 421 model 40WLAs were built. Almost 2500 of the 41WLAs were built, but with the declaration of war at the end of that year, WLA production became fixed on the 1942 model, the 42WLA, which was produced from September 1941 to August 1945—the end of the war in the Pacific. There were small changes in production, but as all parts were interchangeable, it was likely thought to ease confusion by keeping the model number the same throughout the duration of the war. Thus, every WLA built from September 1941 to August 1945 has a 1942 engine number, but the actual year of production is stamped on the crankcase as well. This cool, barn-find, civilianized 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA is the “bike that won the war,” and deserves to be brought back to life in whatever form the new owner chooses. MIKE WOLFE’S AS FOUND COLLECTION F174 1942 HARLEY-DAVIDSON WLA
