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| Car Of The Day: July 2, 2017; Matchbox ’39 Harley Davidson EL (Knucklehead) | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 1 2017, 11:52 PM (279 Views) | |
| Swifty | Jul 1 2017, 11:52 PM Post #1 |
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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![]() Today's truck of the day is Matchbox’s 1939 Harley Davidson (EL) ‘Knucklehead’. The model dates from the mid 90s. The model was initially released part of a small short lived Harley Davidson range. It was never released as a normal miniature. ![]() This model is from Chris.P’s collection. ![]() Knucklehead refers to the shape of the valve covers on the engine. It replaced the Flathead in 1936 and was itself replaced by the Panhead in 1948. The model was refined year by year although whether changes could be seen in 3” scale is another matter. The Knucklehead name wasn’t an official one, it came into common use later. This was Harley’s top model but the older side valve powered bikes carried on in production for a while. ![]() The bike was Harley Davidson’s first OHV engined model. It featured another first for HD, an oil pump to recirculate the oil. Previously their bikes had a total loss system, they dripped and burnt the oil. ![]()
![]() For more information and pictures of the bike, please visit: : HD Knucklehead. This goes over 5 pages. ![]() For more a video of the real bike, please visit: : Harley Knucklehead video. The range shared some components, mainly wheels and tyres. It's a nicely finished model. Initially I wasn’t sure if this colour of blue was authentic for this bike. A quick google showed that it was. However to be totally authentic it should have cream details. It's one main metal casting with the engines halves riveted to it, a plastic seat and plastic forks. The forks are plated with some parts, the mudguard, painted over in blue to match the rest of the bike. It's got separate plastic tyres mounted on metal spoked wheels, open spokes on the front, on mine, and closed ones on the back. Pictured here with Matchbox no.50 Harley Davidson as a comparison.
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| pjedsel | Jul 2 2017, 08:33 AM Post #2 |
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Muscle Car
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Awesome looking Harley Knucklehead - really liking the cool blue! This was a neat series from Matchbox - I recall there was a Convoy truck with Harley markings as well as two Harley buildings. The mark of a completest in those days - I had many of the Harley issues even though I did not have a huge interest in motorcycles. They were Matchbox - they were in the 1-75 size of models and so I had to have them in my collection.
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| juantoo3 | Jul 2 2017, 08:34 AM Post #3 |
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Ah! Someone else likes the old Mbx Harleys!
I think I know where a good many of them went...
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| Pegers | Jul 2 2017, 11:25 AM Post #4 |
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Pony Car
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nice piece..but the real one is the cat's meow... |
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| stromberg97 | Jul 2 2017, 07:49 PM Post #5 |
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Subcompact
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The Knucklehead was later available as a 74 C.I. model,alongside the original 61 C.I. The total loss system had nothing to do with the oil pump.It refers to the chain oiler.If this was not turned off when parked,the bike would continue to drip oil.The oiler often became clogged from road mud,and would not shut off all the way. You just added oil when it got low. All this leads to the adage: Old Harleys don't leak oil.They just mark their territory. Loved the old bikes.My first was a '48 Indian Chief.They used a wet clutch and a distributor. Harleys had a dry clutch and two coils and fired (via late '40's Chevy points) BOTH cylinders at once.No distributor,just a set of points .One cylinder was firing on the power stroke,while the other fired on the exhaust stroke. That's how they had that unique Harvey Diddlesum sound. P.S. Old bikers never die.They just go on to collect little cars. |
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9:51 AM Jul 11