Vintage Harley Servi-Car Provided Concierge Auto Services
Motorcycles & ATVs
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Harley-Davidson introduced the Servi-Car in 1932 during the Great Depression. Harley has a long history of attempting to expand its product base, and the dire economic times made it imperative to tap into different revenue streams. So it made a three-wheeled utility motorcycle targeted to the automotive service industry. This 1948 Harley-Davidson G Servi-Car, recently offered on eBay for $34,995.00, is a later example.
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In the 1930s, people would leave their cars at repair shops, and when the work was done, the shop would drive the car back to its owner. This required two people—one to return the car to its owner, and one to follow and drive them both back to the shop.
Harley built the Servi-Car with a tow bar that hooked to the back bumper of a car. This way, one person could return the customer’s car, unhook the Servi-Car, and ride back to the shop solo. This cleanly restored 1948 Servi-Car comes with the tow bar, adding to its collectability.
The Harley-Davidson Servi-Car: Service With A Smile
Harley-Davidson manufactured the Servi-Car from 1932 to 1973. It was the longest continually produced motorcycle in the lineup until being surpassed by the Sportster.
The Servi-Car has a single downtube frame with a rear subframe to accommodate its rear axle and sheet metal rear box. Harley offered the rear box in two sizes and it could be outfitted with an optional air tank. The tow bar was stowed in the box when not in use. The box otherwise had ample space for tools, a battery, oil cans, and other service items.
This Servi-Car came with a seat on the rear box, an optional extra-cost feature. These large tail sections became big palettes for custom lettering and paint, doubling as rolling billboards.
Easy To Ride For The Novice Easy Rider
The 1948 Harley Servi-Car is powered by a 45 cubic-inch flathead side-valve engine with a recirculating oil system. It’s mated to a hand-shifted, three-speed transmission with reverse gear. The front end features a springer fork and a rigid rear axle with a differential. The frame is a single unit. The tires were set 42 inches apart so the vehicle could travel in the same tracks as cars. The three-wheeled Servi-Car was designed to be operated by someone without motorcycle experience, another strong selling point.
A 1934 Harley-Davidson advertisement reads:
Servi-Car will handle five-hundred pound loads at a fraction the cost of light trucks or autos. Easily handled by anyone who can drive a car.
The completely rebuilt engine and transmission on this striking Azure Blue 1948 Servi-Car have matching numbers.
The seller states:
Every single part has been repaired, replaced, or rebuilt to keep the bike as close to original as possible and to recreate the way it looked on the showroom floor in 1948. OEM parts were used when possible and reproduction when necessary.
The restoration was clearly done with painstaking attention to detail. This beauty does indeed look almost as good as the day it rolled off the factory floor.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.