The Roadhouse Collection To call it one among the most iconic motorcycles in history seems cliché, but the fact is that the Harley-Davidson Knucklehead, like this striking red EL from 1947, stands alone in its influence on the character of the American motorcycle. 1947 marked the final appearance of the famed Knucklehead after a decade-long run, as Harley-Davidson would unveil its second generation of OHV Big Twin engines, the Panhead, the following year. Still, even with such a brief production run, one made even shorter given the interruption of World War II, by 1947, the Knucklehead had firmly established its claim as one of the most pivotal and celebrated motorcycles in history. Many would point to its engine as the source of its significance, but overhead-valve designs were not exactly new; the company itself could point to Bill Ottaway’s OHV factory racers back in 1916. However, with the success of Indian’s Scout and Chief, both powered by economical and reliable flathead engines, the flathead engine came to reign supreme in the American motorcycle industry throughout the late 1920s and 1930s. By 1936, the effects of the Great Depression were beginning to ease, and for the brass in Milwaukee, it was time to leap into the next era of motorcycle design. By leveraging the power of an OHV engine design to deliver a cutting-edge, modern American V-twin, Harley-Davidson again exerted its dominance in the market as it looked to the future of motorcycling. Still, it wasn’t just an engine, but a comprehensive redesign of their motorcycle, including an all-new chassis, a new frame, fork and sheetmetal. Together, these ingredients created the blueprint for the modern American motorcycle: low and sleek, with enough power on tap to make one’s hair stand on end. With the Knucklehead, Harley-Davidson cast the mold for what an American cruiser would be for decades and created an icon in the process. This superb 1947 EL is a legend in its final form, the most polished iteration of an American icon. Refinements introduced in this example include tank redesigns with new “Speedball” emblems, the debut of the classic “Tombstone” taillight and the return of stainless trim and a front fender light after wartime material restrictions. Elevating its pedigree are a chrome springer fork, a sport windshield, a chrome fishtail exhaust and black leather saddlebags to match its solo saddle. For collectors, machines like this 1947 Harley-Davidson EL stand as the crown jewel of any collection, a machine that represents both the end of an era and the epitome of its kind. 1947 HARLEY-DAVIDSON EL KNUCKLEHEAD
