I purchased a 1969 Harley-Davidson fiberglass sidecar (VIN# 69-1037) for my HD motorcycle. I was told that back in the 60's HD made some of their sidecars out of fiberglass in Tomahawk, Wisconsin for the Toronto Police Department (TPD). The gentleman that I purchased it from said that he bought it from a guy that had about ten of them from TPD. Every Harley dealership that I have spoke to said that HD never made fiberglass sidecars that resemble the older steel shaped models (1958-67) that I currently have. And, HD has no record of them selling to the the Toronto Police Department during this era. Some people told me that HD did make a few of these models for the police station and some said that it looks like a sidecar built in Saginaw by Denning. Attached please find an original photo for your thoughts. Thanks.
http://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/profile-upload/retrieve-image.asp?uid=2600&type=photo
Mike,
What I had said to you and your father on the phone and also when the two of you came to look at it was the person that I purchased it from lived in Canada around the Ottawa area.
He had said to me that he bought it from the Ottawa police dept. along with three others,not ten or from the Toronto pd.as you stated.
Now like you quite a few HD dealerships that I spoke to had said the same thing about it one dealer gave me the name and number of a HD dealer in Iowa called Wilwerts I spoke to a lady there I think her name was Dorthy She was the one that told me that the factory had been experimenting with fiberglass bodys starting in the mid 50's.
When I asked her to describe one to me she said that they were made for a few police departments two that she said she thought purchased the most were Ottawa and Pittsburgh Pa.
she said that they were painted white and had no interior only a carpet in side and a cover,they were used in the winter months she also said she had herd of some citys that just switched the bodys from fiberglass for winter to steel for parade duty in summer time.
She did not say where they were made and I do not remember asking her that although HD does make their fiberglass parts in Tomahawk WI. I can't really say that is where it may have been made because I honestly don't know but that factory may be a good guess?
Now as I had said when you first called me about it I was the one that installed all the lights on the sidecar and the windshield and seat as it was purchased for traveling with my wife and daughter I felt that traveling with my family I wanted as much break lights and running lights for safety reasons.
Your right! It was Ottawa. I appologize and stand corrected. For me, it is more a curiousity of whether it is a true Harley product or not. It really doesn't matter because I have already modified it to my disability. But thank you for straightening out the truth. I will send more pics when finished. Thanks again.
For what it is worth, I contacted the Toronto Police Dept. and they sent me a photo of the same fiberglass sidecar in action. They were unsure if it was a Harley product or not. I'll continue to find the truth, because I would love to rub it in my dealerships face.
In your photo it looks more like a Liberty than a Harley car...
Tom,
The Liberty sidecar uses an old style H-D repro fiberglass body mounted on a modern chassis with full trailing arm suspension. This one is an old stock Harley chassis. Different fender and mounting with spindle supported fender bracing. No step plate, no chromed leaf spring body mounts. Definitely not Liberty.
OK. That makes sense...
Hello,
Nice meeting you folks. I just purchased a Harley side car attached to a 69 Harley 74. I am tracking down info on it as discovered your incredible forum. So far yes it came from Tomahawk. Yes it is fiberglass. It is a copy of the original 1928 Dutch Shoe with working side door. It is attached to a Harley 74 Police Special with reverse and was licensed in Canada.
These are interesting units which I am looking for more info. I also have never ridden the side hack except for backing it into the garage. Lots of snow here. I was told this is why these fiberglass units appealed to Canadian Police departments. They put chains on the rear wheel and used them all winter!
Thanks,
Doug
It's possible that Harley may have made a few "Dutch Shoe" versions out of fiberglass for some police departments. I've been looking at Harley sidecars for many a year and have yet to see one but that doesn't mean that they don't exist.
One way to tell would be to write a letter desccribing the sidecar with your VIN No to the Historian in the archive department in Milwaukee.
It could also be an older Liberty body on a Harley frame, too......
I'd like to amend my contribution above. My car is skinned with fibreglass. The body is metal inside. It was not made at the Tomahawk plant. The originator is not known, but there is some belief that it was made for the Police.
Doug
In that case, it would seem that the fiberglass "skin" was an aftermarket addition. Why? Who knows? If it were lined with fiberglass it could be for corrosion protection, but outside I don't see where the benefit would be unless it was to smooth the body for cosmetic purposes. In which case it would most likely be fiberglass paste like Bondo.
Lonnie
