We don’t see a lot of rat rod scooters here on Barn Finds, but the seller refers to this 1960 Harley-Davidson Topper as a rat rod, in liking the way it looks now. This one is listed here on eBay in one of the most bucolic-sounding places on the planet: Travelers Rest, South Carolina. The bid is $1,111 but the reserve isn’t met.
I do think that there’s something cool about a vehicle that looks like this but has new wheels and tires and some new drivetrain bits and pieces. Although, they are really nice when they’re all shiny with a nice paint job, too. This Topper was originally light blue and cream in color but at some point, a previous owner painted it red and black. Hagerty is at $2,900 for a #4 fair condition Topper.
I don’t know if the seller sanded it down to give it this rat rod look or not, but they say that it was kept in their office for several years and there’s a photo of it without looking like this, so I’m guessing, yes. I don’t know what I’d do here, maybe take it back to the original factory colors, how about you? The Topper was quite a departure for Harley-Davidson which made hairy-knuckle manly-man motorcycles, and they were made from 1959 for the model year 1960 to 1965.
That this one has over 8,000 miles on it is pretty amazing. That’s seven round trips to Sturgis from our house, cool. Speaking of 1,200-mile road trips on a scooter, the seller does have a windshield for this one that isn’t shown, that would be a must. I’ll take my protein in non-bug-in-the-teeth varieties, thanks very much. This Topper has two new tires and tubes and the wheels have been restored, and it also has a new drive belt, new carb, and a new seat cover.
The engine is a 165-cc two-stroke single which in “A” form, which I believe this example is, would have had six horsepower. The seller got it running after it sat in their office for years and it’s been at vintage bike shows and always draws a crowd, which it should. If it wasn’t so far away this would be very tempting to throw down a serious bid rather than the non-reserve-meeting bid that I have on it now. Have any of you owned or ridden a Harley Topper?
My neighbor had a new blue one. It was funny to watch him start it with that pull cord, like a lawn mower.
That’s one of the drawbacks for sure, 370zpp. I just started my Sno Runner and it always seems weird pull-starting something rather than kick-starting it.
If you are from the midwest, and attended parades in Milwaukee, the Shriners rode these in death defying stunts that wowed the crowd. Basically figure 8s, and I always thought those guys looked silly. Grownups in silly costumes riding HD Toppers in circles. Hey, before the innernet[sic], with all it’s fancy conjured up images, THAT was entertainment. Like Scotty mentions, Toppers were something us Harley folks refused to accept. Fact is, outside of parades, I never recall seeing any on the road, and for good reason. There were 2 things one never did, ride a Topper, or take the last gal home after bar time. Both risky business. You’d think with fuel prices, our cities would look like downtown Hong-Kong, but alas, these E-bikes are all the rage now. Neighbor bought one, $2400 bucks, but he loves it, even though, on steep hills, it needs a “pedal” boost, it’s probably the way to go today. And for the record, faded paint only is this “patina” crap, a rat-rod looks nothing like the original.
Back in the early 1990’s a friend had me take his nice condition blue/cream Topper to a large swap meet in IL. All he wanted was $500 and it sold quickly.
This one without any doubt should be restored. To rat-rod it would be unthinkable and a huge mistake.
This looks like the scooter Elmer Fudd rode on in some cartoons. 😊😊
Scooters and fat chicks, they’re both alotta fun, you just don’t want your friends to see with them. But when you get to a certain age you don’t care what anybody says or thinks. These have quite a following and with all of that peeling paint should be restored. IMHO
I think it looks cool too Scotty. If it’s all perfectly restored and polished and painted and all that useless crap it’s appropriate for a female, not for a man.
Was this Harleys answer to the Vespa? How many years did Harley offer these? A kid I hung around with had a green Vespa that he rode all over the west side of Detroit in the mid sixties.
When I think of a “rat rod”, I certainly don’t think of a red and baby-blue scooter.
An internet search reveals that approximately 85% of what the Shriners take in goes to the charity for the kids they are trying to help.
A number they can be proud of.
The engine was based on the DKW RT125, the most copied motorcycle of all times, father of the Yamaha amongst others.
Cool scooter. I just picked up a 1947 American Moto Scoot. It’s rope pull primary with a 120v starter bolted on the engine. It literally has the 3 prongs sticking up to plug in to an extension cord. I haven’t tried it yet. Lol.
tried to figure out the drive system. Is it a pully off the motor that sends power to a chain drive?
My parents bought me one of these Harleys for my freshman year of college 1969. Also got a snazzy white Bucco helmet to go with it. Walked into a class one day with the helmet in hand and a guy asks me “what are you riding?”
And I said nonchalantly “Harley”… Guy says “cool.” It was the Easy Rider era.😎
My Harley had an Automatic transmission, a pull cord starter, and a two/stroke; but I didn’t tell him that. Got that bike up to 60mph on the Pittsburgh Parkway though.
LOL Bob,
You, hands down have the best comments so far!
Around here the Shriners rode Cushman Scooters, not Toppers. Milwaukee, home of H-D, may have been different.
Nope, never owned one. But have you ever tried Colt 45 Malt Liquor?
Then I’d say we’re even!
Auction update: This Topper sold for $3,401.36.