The Harley-Davidson Servi-Car (1932–1936) was the company’s first successful three-wheeled commercial motorcycle, built specifically for delivery work, service stations, and utility use. Unlike the later 45" flathead Servi-Cars most people recognize, these early machines were powered by Harley’s R-series side-valve engine.
Harley-Davidson had experimented with commercial machines before 1932, including the motorcycle truck and package truck, but neither found lasting success. The Servi-Car was different. It filled a real need and went on to become Harley-Davidson’s longest-running production model, remaining in production until 1973.
For detailed model breakdowns, see the Model Reference section, or use the Harley VIN Decoder to identify specific machines.
When the Servi-Car debuted in 1932, it was powered by Harley’s new R-series side-valve engine. The R-series replaced the unsuccessful D-series, another 45" side-valve V-twin built from 1929 through 1931. The two engines are easy to tell apart, with the D-series using a vertically mounted generator and the R-series using the more familiar horizontal layout. The real changes were internal, including updates to the flywheels, crankcases, barrels, pistons, connecting rods, and oil pump.
Like most Harleys of the period, the Servi-Car shared many components with the two-wheeled motorcycles of its day. It used a tubular single down tube frame with a rear subframe to support the rear axle and sheet metal box. The rear box was available in two sizes and could also be ordered with an air tank. A hand-shifted three-speed transmission with reverse, paired with the R-series motor, made the 630-pound Servi-Car relatively easy to maneuver.
The Servi-Car was designed for operators with little or no motorcycle experience, which explains its three-wheel configuration. The three-wheel layout also made it towable without a trailer. Harley took advantage of this by offering a front tow bar that could be attached to the rear bumper of an automobile without a hitch. This made Servi-Cars especially popular with service stations. In the 1930s, service stations often returned cars to customers, and a Servi-Car allowed a single driver to make the delivery, unhook it, and ride back alone.
Early Servi-Cars in factory and service use show how basic and work-focused these machines were.
The large rear trunk made the Servi-Car well suited for hauling a wide range of items, and it also doubled as a billboard for advertising.
Police departments were another important market for the Servi-Car. Harley later fitted Servi-Cars with left-hand throttles so officers could hold a tire chalk stick in the right hand while riding. Before that, officers had to ride two-up.
Despite its later success, the early years saw very low production. The country was deep in the Great Depression, and production rarely exceeded 500 units per year, with 1933 dropping below 200 machines. Even so, the Servi-Car survived, and with the introduction of the W-series engine in 1937, it was positioned for a long production run.
Period literature and factory material show how Harley-Davidson marketed the early Servi-Car during the 1930s.
For more early Harley-Davidson three-wheel models and specifications, see the Model Reference section.