I have written about many classic motorcycles since joining the crew at Barn Finds. However, digging through the site’s archive revealed that it has been almost three years since I tackled a Harley-Davidson. The time has come to right that wrong, courtesy of this 1967 Harley-Davidson FL. It presents nicely as a survivor-grade vehicle, retaining most of its original paint. Its beauty is more than skin-deep, with the seller confirming it is a turnkey proposition. That will allow the winning bidder to enjoy this beauty immediately while they contemplate whether its future involves restoration or preservation. The seller has listed the Harley here on eBay in Columbia Station, Ohio. Bidding sits at $6,327, which is below the reserve.
The seller states that this Harley retains most of its original paint. They describe it as “Hi-Fi Sparkling Burgundy,” although that shade doesn’t appear on the 1967 color chart. It could be a Special Order example wearing Hi-Fi Red, but only an in-person inspection would reveal the truth. It isn’t perfect, but considering it is a survivor with almost six decades of active service behind it, the presentation is extremely tidy. The buyer could undertake a cosmetic restoration, although history shows that most enthusiasts are drawn to genuine survivors. It is definitely designed for long-distance touring. The fiberglass saddlebags appear to be crack-free, offering excellent luggage protection and security. The White leather saddle looks extremely comfortable, and the enormous windshield should offer reasonable protection from wind and light rain. The chrome luggage rack is another practical feature, and, like the remaining trim, its condition looks very nice.
Launched in 1941, the original FL featured the 74ci “Knucklehead” V-Twin. The company transitioned to the “Panhead” in 1948, with the “Shovelhead” following in 1966. The Shovelhead featured the same 74ci capacity as its predecessors and produced a very respectable 60hp. The flexibility of the Harley-Davidson V-Twin meant it could cope with a four-speed transmission, while many European machines from this era required a five-speed to compensate for lower-torque engines. The seller states that this Shovelhead fires into life easily, whether by kick or electric starter. They include an embedded video in their listing supporting the claim. The motor sounds glorious, with the full-length exhaust removing the brutal edge from the engine note. It is a turnkey proposition, ready for action once the winning bidder hands over their cash.
Purchasing a classic Harley-Davidson is about more than simply owning a motorcycle. It offers admission to a community of enthusiasts who will support one another when things go wrong. One owner will rarely leave another stranded on the side of the road due to a breakdown. They will stop and help to get them mobile again. This 1967 Harley FL will allow someone to join that community immediately because it is ready for adventure and life on the open road. These classics typically draw the most respect when original, but since this FL isn’t perfect, would you perform a cosmetic refresh, or is preservation more appropriate?
,,,,,,,,,,oh boy, here come the waterworks,,,”well now they call me the Breeze, I keep rolling down the road”,,,I’m not sure if these are tears of joy or sadness,,,let’s go with joy. One of my good trucking friends, we called him “The Breeze”, because his last name was Brz—–, mostly in my rock hauling days in and around Milwaukee, say, late 70s, he had a bike just like this, only a ’65. 1st year for electric start, one winter, we rebuilt the bike in his living room, which was the style at the time,,,he had it painted black and white, to mimic the Milwaukee police bikes of the 60s. 1st touch of Spring, we’d haul rocks all day, come quitting time, we’d go for a putt. it was considered therapy after a long day in the dump truck. I had my 1st GW, a ’75, and even though my GW was out of place. The 2 bikes couldn’t have been more different, like Laurel and Hardy, but we had a kindred relationship. I can cherish those memories once again, thanks to this “visual” and to Adam for writing this up. You da’ man!.
I ended up driving a truck for another friend, that stole one of his trucking accounts, and I lost touch of him. Couple years back, that friend informed me, Breeze took his own life on a Christmas Eve, he was 65. Miss ya’, buddy,,
Oh, 1 more thing, ’65 was the last year for the panhead, and I, and others, have not so fond memories of these bikes, if it didn’t start on the 2nd kick, might be a while. Let’s say I waited until all the Harleys were running before I started my GW. Electric start changed everything for Harley. It opened up the world of biking to women, who previously, had a tough time kicking these to start. If you knew a gal that could kick start a Harley, you better have married her!
Had a ’70 B&W Electra Glide. The neighbor up the street was retiring and was going to RV around the country, so the HD needed to go. Only 11k miles in 20 years. Rode it for 5 years and traded it in for a new Triumph in ’96. The HD got attention and the Triumph didn’t. Still looking for it years later. I’ve been packing around all this paperwork for it hoping to find the current owner. (WA license plate CH 600)