American Muscle

In 1963, Willie G Davidson (son of founder Arthur Davidson) joined the Harley-Davidson family firm as Director of Design. By then, 120,000 miles of super-highway had been constructed across the United States and was rapidly changing the face of motorcycling culture. The rider’s demand for high-performance, long-range machines drew race technology from the track onto the street at an unprecedented pace.

The T120 Bonneville was gaining significant market share and Harley-Davidson, now America’s longest-standing motorcycle company, responded to British muscle head-on with what is now considered to be a signature design: the light and powerful XLH Sportster. It was this Sportster that redefined the battle lines and allowed Harley-nited States bike scene.

In 1963, the Sportster ran alone as the muscle bike of the day. With the styling, engineering and heritage that only the Harley-Davidson Motor Company could bring to the sport, the ‘63 Sportster ran like a muscle bike should, with power and presence. 

Willie G Davidson fought pressure from the bean counters to simplify the design and accommodate emerging corporate production practice. However, the ’63 model retained the classic variability of the XLH/C Sportster. Willie understood that this and the brute power of the 45 degree v-twin gave voice to the individual rider and, more importantly, to his father’s founding passion.

With the now-classic shorty duals exhaust pipes, ‘eyebrow’ headlight and peanut tank, Willie G Davidson’s first 100%-authored design, the 1963 Sportster, is a key junction not only in Harley-Davidson’s history but in that of 20th-century motorcycle design.