Harley Davidson® VIN Identification Guide

This list is unofficial and is not gospel, only what I have been able to cross in various manuals, web sites and dealerships. If you have more updated info on this data, please let me know.

Thanks!!

1903-1909 | 1910-1919 | 1920-1929 | 1930-1936 | 1937-1961 | 1962-1969 | 1970-1980 | 1981-2000 | 2001-2009 | 2010-Present

1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961

VIN Info

• Engine number is the VIN and is located on left case.
  NO frame number.
  
Example: 42 WLDR 1112


• 42 = Year
  


• WLDR = Model

45 CID Solo

W = Standard 45 CID Flathead W = 45ci twin, low compression (1937) WL = Sport solo, High Compression 45 twin (1937-1939) WL = High Compression 45 ci twin (1940-1942) WL = 45 ci twin (1945-1951) WLA = Military Version 45 ci twin WLD = 45 ci Sport solo, extra high compression (1937-1939) WLD = 45 ci Sport solo (1940-1941) WLD = 45 ci Special Sport solo (1942) WLDR = 45 ci Flathead, competition model (1937-1940) WLDR = 45 ci Flathead, Special Sport solo (1941) WR = Factory Racer 45 ci twin WS = 45 ci , sidecar gearing (1937)

45 CID Trike

G = 45 CID Trike GA = 45 CID Trike without tow bar GD = 45 CID Trike Servicar, no tow bar GDT = 45 CID trike Servicar w/towbar GE = 45 CID trike w/ electric start GL = 45 CID Trike

74 & 80 CID Solo Flathead

U = 74 ci twin, medium compression (1937-1948) UH = 80 ci twin, solo, medium compression, sidecar gears (1938) UH = 80 ci twin, solo, medium compression (1939-1941) UHS = 80 ci twin, medium compression, sidecar gears (1937-1940) UL = 74 ci twin special sport solo (1937-1942) UL = 74 ci twin, high compression solo (1943-1948) ULH = 80 ci twin, special sport solo (1938-1941) US = 74 ci twin, medium compression, sidecar gears (1938-1940, 1945-1948)

K Models

K = 45 ci SV twin, Sport model (1952-1953) KH = 55 ci Sport model (1954-1956) KHK = 55 ci Sport model w/ special speed kit (1954(?),1955-1956) KHR = 55 CID 55", SV Twin (1954-1956) KK = 45 CID 45" SV twin KR = 45 ci SV twin, four speed trans, magneto ign, flat track racer (1953-1961) KRTT = 45 ci SV twin, four speed trans, magneto ign (1956-1957, 1961) KHRTT = 55 ci OHV twin, TT racer (1954-1957)

Sportster Models

XL = 55 CID OHV (1957) XL = 55 ci OHV, mediun compression (1958-1959) XLC = 55 ci OHV, 9:1 (1958) XLCH = 55 ci OHV, 9:1, magneto ignition (1958-1959) XLCH= 55 ci OHV, Super CH Sportster (1960-1961) XLH = 55 ci OHV, 9:1 (1958-1959) XLH = 55 ci OHV, Super H Sportster (1960-1961) XLRTT = 55 ci, TT Racer (1961)

Experimental Model

XA = 45 CID Horizontally Opposed Twin (First 1/2 1942)

Overhead Valve Big Twin Models

E = 61 ci OHV twin, medium compression (1937, 1941-1948) EL = 61 ci OHV twin, Special sport solo (1937-1948) EL = 61 ci OHV twin, sport solo (1949-1951) EL = 61 ci OHV twin, sport solo, hand shift (1952) ELF = 61 ci OHV twin, sport solo, foot shift (1952) ELS = 61 ci OHV twin, sidecar gears (1951) ELS = 61 ci OHV twin, sidecar gears, hand shift (1952) ES = 61 ci OHV twin, medium compression, sidecar gears (1937-1940, 1945-1949) ES = 61 ci OHV twin, sidecar gears (1950) F = 74 ci , medium compression (1941, 1943-1950) FL = 74 ci, Special sport solo (1941-1949) FL = 74 ci, sport solo (1950-1952) FL = 74 ci, sport solo, hand shift (1953-1961) FLE = 74 ci, hand shift w/ traffic combination (1953-1956) FLEF = 74 ci, foot shift w/ traffic combination (1953-1957) FLF = 74 ci OHV twin, sport solo, foot shift (1952, 1954-1961) FLH = 74 ci OHV twin, super sport solo, hand shift (1955-1956) FLH = 74 ci OHV twin, super sport, hand shift (1957-1961) FLHF = 74 ci OHV twin, super sport solo, foot shift (1955-1956) FLHF = 74 ci OHV twin, super sport, foot shift (1957-1961) FLS = 74 ci OHV twin, sidecar gears (1951-1952) FS = 74 ci, OHV twin, medium compression, sidecar gears (1945-1950)

Two-stroke Models

A = Topper scooter - 165cc singel, belt drive, auto trans, 9 HP (1960) AH = Topper scooter - 165cc singel, belt drive, auto trans, 9 HP (1961) AU = Topper scooter - 165cc singel, belt drive, auto trans, 5 HP w/ carb restrictor (1960-1961) BT = Super 10 - 165cc single, 9 HP(1960-1961) BTU = Super 10 - 165cc single, 5 HP, w/ carb restrictor (1960-1961) ?? = Hummer - 125cc single (1955-1959) S = 125cc single (1948-1952) ST = 165cc single (1953-1959) STU = 165cc single, modified carb (1954-1959)

Other Four-stroke Models

C = Sprint - 250cc single (1961) CRTT = 250cc, single, OHV, 9.5:1, 4 speed trans, battery ignition, off road racer. (1961)

74 and 80 CID Flatheads were produced 1937-1952
Knuckleheads were produced 1936-1947
Panheads were produced 1948-1965
K Models were produced 1952-1956, with the exception of the KR (1969 Only)
Ironhead Sportsters were produced 1957-1984


• 1112 = Sequential production Number

• Production

  1937 - 11,674 1938 - 9,934 1939 - 8,355 1940 - 10,855 1941 - 18,428 1942 - 29,603 1943 - 29,243 1944 - 17,006 1945 - 11,978 1946 - 15,554 1947 - 20,392 1948 - 31,163 1949 - 23,740 1950 - 18,355 1951 - 14,580 1952 - 17,250 1953 - 14,050 1954 - 12,250 1955 - 9,750 1956 - 11,906 1957 - 13,079 1958 - 12,676 1959 - 12,342 1960 - 15,728 1961 - 10,497

1937

1938

1939

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960

1961