If I would have played the cryptocurrency market more wisely, or at all, I’d be all over this 1960 Harley-Davidson Topper and would have enough money to just drop it off at a restoration shop and have them make it Pebble Beach-ready. The seller has this rare scoot listed here on eBay in West Chester, Pennsylvania and they’re asking an eye-watering $5,000 or you can make an offer.
People can ask anything they want for a vehicle and we all know that there are no rules anymore as far as that goes. Not that there ever was but now, when used vehicles are sometimes going for more than new ones which aren’t even available, the rules go out the window. Hagerty is at $5,900 for a #2 excellent condition Topper so unless that cryptocurrency millionaire needs to have this particular Topper, I can’t see them getting anywhere close to that $5,000 asking price.
The Topper was Harley-Davidson’s only attempt at the scooter market and they are very cool and actually quite powerful, given that there isn’t a mere 49 cc engine here, this one would have had a 165 cc with 6 horsepower! That’s over three times the CCs of most of my oddball little bikes. I would love to have this one but the restoration would be too much for me as it needs almost everything, although the seat, grips, and a few other things look perfect. Parts of the body don’t show any rust at all and that’s because they’re fiberglass, but the floorboards and front portion are stamped steel.
Harley made the Topper from 1959 until 1965 and this is either a Model A or AU – both were available in 1960 and 1961. The AU version was slightly detuned with just under 5-horsepower with the “U” designating “underpowered”. That model was available in order to meet street use guidelines in several states with “junior driver laws” at the time whereas motorcycles had to have under 5-horsepower. The restoration here would be very doable if a person could do 90% of the work him/herself to save money.
There are no engine photos but as I mentioned, it should have a 165 cc two-stroke air-cooled single and obviously, this one isn’t in running condition. We don’t know the story here but the seller says that it was parked in 1961 and there is no title and that’s basically it. Check out the photos and let us know if you would give this Topper a full restoration or get it working and drive it as looks now, or neither.
My neighbor owned one of these brand new, identical, same color. As a kid, for me there was something novel about watching him reach down and pull the recoil “Lawn mower” starter to make it go.
When I got my first bike ,a 64 Sprint H 250 my friend got one of these.It would bury the needle at 60 mph.It would keep with the Sprint up to 60.I’d like one but I would be a buyer at hundreds not thousands:-)
I want to ride that to Sturgis
There is one for sale on craigslist and facebook messnger for 800 bucks .
I had one in 1984,$20 bucks out of a back yard.
I was 12 and had my first harley. My friends and I beat the crap out of that poor thing.
Don’t remember what happened to it in the end but I’m sure it wasn’t good
You can get in on the ground floor of my new cryptocurrency. It will have a tulip on one side and Alfred E. Newman on the other side with the slogan ..”what, me worry”
Does it come with the silly red hat and vest? I remember, the Shriners used to ride these in parades, they looked ridiculous, and I don’t think you’ll find the words “Harley-Davidson” prominently displayed on this bike. The speedo( that nobody else saw) and that “Topper” nameplate pretty small, it was a huge source of denial for macho Harley riders. Besides parades, I never saw one on the street.
I think when people dream of a Harley, this is not what they have in mind.
Neat vehicle. Stored after a year for 60 years? Where? Underwater?
Hey….. where area all the safety trolls worrying about “the saaaafety, the saaaaafety ” with this one ?
New in 1960 and parked in 1961!
Oh it’s got to come with the “silly red hat & vest” .
Dream on, seller!
Less than a hour left, you better hurry!!
“Kookie” had one in the TV show 77 Sunset strip. As a junior high guy I thought it was pretty cool.
Hopefully the seller will realize H-D Toppers simply don’t bring money like the bigger brothers do. A realistic price for this one, in rough but mostly complete condition, is $500. Beautiful running and restored examples [even in the same state of PA as this one] are about $5k, A nice running unrestored one is for sale for $3,500, and unrestored versions can be had for under $1k.
it been through ebay 5 times at same price no buyers just check there completed listings There are others on there site that have been runt through many times I think that tells you somthing
Oh my word…what’s left of that license tag and broken tail lamp on the back tells me everything I need to know about this thing. A poorly-housed thing of beauty when first parked, now sadly some H-D lover’s pet project. You’ll be, literally, underwater, from the moment you lay down 5000 clams!
I like the Midget in your photo. I had a ’74 just like it.