Fagen Fighters WWII Museum proudly
displays this unrestored 1944 Harley
Davidson WLA Type VII
Model Designation
W : the
W family of motorcycles. Harley
Davidson (except in very early
models) gives a letter designation
for each model family. The W series
at the time was the newest
incarnation of the 45 cubic inches
(740 cc) flathead motor, and was
developed from the earlier R family
1932–1936.
L : "high compression", in
the usual HD scheme. The "low
compression" W model was only
briefly available.
A : Army. The
company would also produce a model
to the slightly different
specifications of the Canadian Army,
which would be named the WLC. The
WLCs differed from WLAs chiefly in
the use of some heavier components,
usually Big Twin parts, as well as
Canadian blackout lighting.
History
Harley-Davidson began producing
the WLA in small numbers in 1940, as
part of a general military
expansion. The later entry of the
United States into World War II saw
significantly increased production,
with over 90,000 being produced
during the war (along with spare
parts the equivalent of many more).
Harley Davidson would also produce a
close WLA variant for the Canadian
Army called the WLC and would also
supply smaller numbers to the UK,
South Africa, and other allies, as
well as filling orders for different
models from the Navy and Marine
Corps.
Unusually, all the WLAs produced
after Pearl Harbor, regardless of
the actual year, would be given
serial numbers indicating 1942
production. Thus, war-time machines
would come to be known as 42WLAs.
This may have been in recognition of
the use of the continued use of the
same specification. Most WLCs were
produced in 1943, and are marked
43WLC. The precise serial number, as
well as casting marks, can be used
to date a specific motor accurately,
and some other parts bear year and
month stamps. Frames and many other
parts were not tagged with the
serial number, and cannot generally
be dated. (This is common prior to
adoption of the VIN.)
Many WLAs would be shipped to
allies under the Lend-Lease program.
The largest recipient was the Soviet
Union, which was sold over 30,000
WLAs. Production of the WLA would
cease after the war, but would be
revived for the Korean War during
the years 1949–1952.
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