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Harley-Davidson Servi-Car Police Special — 1972

A fun three-wheeler with a clear utilitarian police-oriented design heritage from its home country, and a practical ownership history from a previous user. The ability to operate a large and heavy trike can be a game-changer for a motorcycle enthusiast.

Peter Sundfeldt
Inspector
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Rebecca R Bengtsson
Case manager
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"Just as fun to drive as it looks—and as it promises to be. Accelerating with your left hand, clutching with your left foot, and shifting gears with your right hand offers a distinctly hands-on charm for any first-time driver."

COUNTDOWN
CURRENT BID
01 MAJ 13:10
86 000SEK
LOT NUMBER
LOCATION
18137
GISLAVED
ESTIMATED VALUE
RESERVE PRICE
140 - 160 000 SEK
Not reached
PLACE YOUR BID (MINIMUM 87 000 SEK)
Non deductable VAT
SEK
Auction fee: 5% or min. 2900 SEK (incl VAT)
BID HISTORY
31117
26 APR 19:41
86 000 SEK
3786
26 APR 09:41
85 000 SEK
14364
26 APR 07:00
81 000 SEK
34675
25 APR 23:42
75 000 SEK
28646
25 APR 23:04
66 000 SEK
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Peter Sundfeldt
Inspector
Send message
Rebecca R Bengtsson
Case manager
Send message

"Just as fun to drive as it looks—and as it promises to be. Accelerating with your left hand, clutching with your left foot, and shifting gears with your right hand offers a distinctly hands-on charm for any first-time driver."

Description

Reportedly delivered new to the Los Angeles Police Department in 1972. On a Police Special, the throttle is mounted on the left side and the hand shifter is located to the right of the tank, allowing the officer to drive and shoot at the same time—or, more commonly, to mark parked car tires with chalk. However, civilian Servi-Cars could come with a traditional right-hand throttle, and both versions were available.

The bike came to Sweden in 1990 with a Swede from Vetlanda who was living in the U.S. at the time. He sold the Harley to an enthusiast in the Gävle area, who discovered the frame was slightly bent and had it straightened. After that, the current owner's grandfather purchased the bike following an accident that left him with limited leg mobility. Photos and a 2000 article from Värnamo Nyheter provide more details about that chapter. He completed the restoration and had it painted in its current red and white color scheme. The most recent and final approved vehicle inspection was carried out on 2024-08-15.

Technical data

  • Year
    1972/1972 
  • Registration date
    1999-04-13 
  • Mileage
    244 km 
  • Registration Number
    PCK262 
  • Chassis Number
    5A23503H2 
  • Kw / hp
    18 / 24 
  • Fuel Type
    Petrol 
  • Transmission
    Manual 
  • Interior finish
    Vinyl 
  • Colour
    Red / White  

Condition

  • Mechanical condition:

    The engine design hails from Harley-Davidson’s W-series of the 1930s, a faithful 750cc side-valve unit used from 1937 all the way through the model’s final year in 1973. The factory had large stockpiles of these engines left over from wartime production. It starts easily and eagerly, with a clutch and gear lever that are both easy to operate, and both the hand and foot brakes provide solid stopping power.

    The foot brake pedal has been moved forward to accommodate the previous owner’s fused leg—the very reason he opted for a three-wheeler in the first place—allowing him to ride a motorcycle again after his accident. Riding it is more about learning and internalizing the coordination of left-hand throttle, foot clutch, and hand shift. But once you do, the bike feels solid and composed on the road, especially within the framework of its unique design and purpose.

  • Interior condition:

    The seat is clean and intact, paired with newer, comfortable grips—though the original ones are included as well. Also included is an original speedometer, calibrated in miles and marked Police Special.

  • Exterior condition:

    Cheerfully painted in red and white, it stands in contrast to the more understated original paint schemes—often black and white, as befits an old police bike. There are a couple of small paint blemishes on the front fender where the previous large generator made contact, as well as a minor mark on the right rear fender. Since then, the owner has replaced it with a smaller and more efficient generator.

  • General condition:

    Well-preserved, stylish, and presentable. Despite its weapon-ready setup, this three-wheeler carries a disarmingly friendly exterior vibe. Three wheels on a motorcycle simply give the vehicle a gentler, more approachable appearance.

MOT (tech. insp.)

Fordonsstatus: Avst 2025-02-04
Ursprungsbesiktning: 1999-03-31 (regbes)
Datum i trafik första gången: 1999-04-13
Senast godkända besiktning: 2024-08-15
Besiktningsbefriad: Ja
Skattebefriad: Ja
Körförbud: Nej
Antal ägare: 3

Facts about the model

The Servi-Car was developed during the Great Depression, when Harley-Davidson was actively expanding its model range to boost sales. The three-wheeler was originally aimed at the automotive service industry, intended for roadside assistance and delivering cars to customers. It had a well-thought-out purpose, featuring a front-mounted tow bar and a large battery. The tow bar was used to hitch the Servi-Car behind a car—not the other way around. This setup allowed a single person to transport a vehicle from one location to another and then ride back: after delivering the car to its destination, the driver could unhitch the Servi-Car and return to the garage.

Beyond car delivery and pickup, the Servi-Car also became popular as a utility vehicle for small businesses and mobile vendors. And just like the auction bike, it saw long-standing use by police departments—remaining in service well into the 1990s.

Location and viewing Information

Location: Gislaved

For viewing the vehicle, contact the inspector/case manager:

Peter Sundfeldt
+46 705-38 80 22
peter@bilwebauctions.se

Pick up

Pickup cannot take place between May 9 and May 12.

NOTE! Payment (deposit to our account) must be made within 5 days and before collection.

Auction information

General information about the condition of the vehicles .
  • At this auction, many vehicles have been included in car collections and have been stored (mothballed) for a long time. For this reason, they are described from a collector's perspective and may need technical reviews and maintenance service - oil, battery replacement, new tires, brake review, etc. - before they can be used. .
  • During the auction days information about a vehicle may be updated up to the day before the auction ends. When you bid at the end of the auction period - and also if you have made an earlier bid - we therefore ask you to read the descriptions carefully, in case something has been changed due to new information.
Important to know before placing your bids!
  • Once you have called in an item and the reservation price is reached we want you to deposit the entire purchase amount into our client funds account before retrieval can take place.
  • When you need to retrieve a called in object we want you to examine it carefully. If you consider that the item does not match our description you do not need to complete the purchase. In this case the deposited purchase sum and the entry fee are refunded.
  • If you do not examine the item on the spot the call charge will be debited, but you do not have to complete the deal.
  • If you make the entire purchase exclusively at a distance you have 14 days to cancel, but must return the item at your own expense.
  • Your shipping costs and other costs are not reimbursed when the right of withdrawal is exercised. Swedish court applies.
  • For items that have not been collected within 14 days storage costs may be charged.

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