Harley-Davidson 1948 Model GA Servi-Car 742 cc 2 cyl sv 3608

Harley-Davidson 1948 Model GA Servi-Car 742 cc side valve v-twin frame # 48G16916

The Harley-Davidson Servi-Car was put on the market in the course of 1932 when Harley-Davidson was desperate to expand its product base to increase sales. Initially the new product was targeted at the automotive service industry, as Indian had done shortly before with their successful Dispatch Tow. The idea was for a garage to be able to send out one man (rather than two) to collect a customer’s car and to return with it to the garage, towing the Servi-Car behind it. When work was completed, the process was reversed. Theoretically this should be much cheaper than sending out two men in a car or van. The track of the rear axle was 1100 mm, in line with the track of most contemporary cars, which was very practical for instance when the S-C had to be ventured out in heavy snow.

Soon the Servi-Car became popular with local authorities and mobile vendors as a utility vehicle and also police departments saw the potential of the S-C for various duties. Some police departments used the S-Cs into the 1990s. Year by year improvements were made, but till the end of production in 1973 the 742 cc side valve power source would be used. In pre-WW 2 years the Model G, the S-C with towbar, was very much more in demand than the GA without bar. After the war GAs became more popular; in 1948 1050 Gs were sold, against 728 GAs. By the end of the fifties no more models with towbar were produced. There are three forward speeds and a reverse and the engine delivers some 21hp@4400rpm. Top speed is around 85km/h. In 1948 494 S-Cs left the factory (source: M. Gerst, Harley-Davidson, all the motorcycles,1903-1983).

The machine we present has a current Dutch registration and has been beautifuly restored some time ago. She comes with correct 1948 details such as the tombstone rear light and the Speed Ball tank badges. Some recommissioning will be required as she has been at rest in a private collection for a number of years.