1908 Harley Davidson Model 4 Strap Tank

Dubbed as the “rarest Harley David­son ever built” and the “most expensive motor­cycle ever sold”. Vintagent lists a sale price of $935,000 at the Mecum Auction held in Las Vegas on Jan­uary 28, 2023.

• ENGINE: 27 CI, 740CC Single-Cylinder F-Head
• ENGINE NO: 2113
• HP: 3.9
• TOP SPEED: 40 mph
• SEAT: Troxel Mfg. Co.

Harley-David­son, Inc. needs no introduction as an iconic Amer­ican Motor­cycle manufacturer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1901, William S. Harley, Arthur David­son, and brother Walter David­son began work on their first Motor­cycle engine. Their first attempt may have been a failure, but they founded Harley-David­son in 1903 and became one of the largest Motor­cycle manufacturers by 1920. They produced Motor­cycles for the United States used in both World War I & II and were one of only two major Motor­cycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression. In fact, they’ve survived numerous changes to ownership and restructuring, intense global competition, charges of restrictive practices, claims of stock price manipulation, and a constantly evolving view of the company and bikers. Still, they are widely known for their loyal following and now manufacture in Penn­syl­vania, Wisconsin, Brazil, and Thailand. Their classic cruiser style, including high handlebars, low seats, and chrome parts, is easily recognizable. They’re also noted for their customizability, giving rise to the chopper style of Motor­cycle, and for the distinct sound of HD’s powerful engines.

It is estimated that only a handful of real examples of the 1908 Model 4 Strap Tank exist today. This example sports a genuine 1908 Strap Tank engine placed in a reproduction frame which a noted Cali­fornia restorer professionally prepared. It was part of the Glenn Bator Motor­cycle collection and was sold in 2019. This Motor­cycle has received many awards, most notably, the AMCA Century Medallion Award during the Yankee Chapter event held in Terryville, Conn­ecticut in July 2021

1908 Harley-Davidson Model 4 Strap Tank from Mecum Auctions

THE STORY

“As the earliest examples from one of the world's most recognizable Motor­cycle brands, "Strap Tank" Harley-David­sons are among the most coveted machines ever built. This stunning 1908 Harley-David­son Model 4 ranks high among the rare examples that remain. Fewer than a dozen such models have been uncovered, this example having been painstakingly restored around its Orig­inal 1908 Model 4 engine and expertly fabricated frame.

The 1908 Model 4 itself was the first Harley-David­son to feature Harley-David­son's model numbering system, the "4" stemming from the production origin beginning in 1904. The 450 Model 4 Strap Tanks assembled in 1908 were done so in Harley-David­son's new brick- built factory, where the rapidly growing manufacturer housed its 18 employees. The 1908 Model 4 was the final year of the coveted Strap Tank and featured a handful of improvements, including an adjustable exhaust-valve stem, strengthened fork and wide fenders. Black or Renault Gray were still the only color options, though pinstripe accents and lettering painted by the founder's aunt, Janet David­son, added a touch of refinement. Its 27 CI (740cc) F-head single produced 3.9 HP, which was driven to the 26-inch rear wheel by a leather belt to reach a top speed of 40 MPH.

A former machine from the incomparable Glenn Bator Motor­cycle Collection, this expertly crafted 1908 Harley-David­son Model 4 Strap Tank boasts an AMCA Century Medallion Award received at the Yankee Chapter National Meet in 2021. After retiring the Strap Tank design in 1908, Harley-David­son continued to develop, refine and expand its business with a steady rise to the top of the global Motor­cycle industry by 1920. Today, the brand has become synonymous with the idea of the Motor­cycle itself and is one of the most recognizable brands worldwide. Still, were it not for the determination of its founders, the quality of the company’s machines or the elegant refinement of its early Motor­cycles like this stunning 1908 Model 4, Harley-David­son may have met the same fate as the countless other pioneering Motor­cycle brands who have been long-since forgotten.”

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