John Parham’s 1955 Harley-Davidson FL Panhead

The year is 1979. At an Indiana swap meet a man and his wife find the Harley-Davidson of their dreams, a yellow 1955 FL Hydra-Glide. Putting together about all the money they had, including their IRS refund, they buy it a week later for more than they felt they bargained for. It’s restored once. Five years later the Panhead burns in a fire at J&P Cycles. It gets restored again. In 1991 expenses at J&P Cycles get way out of control. A 1939 Harley and the yellow Pan are hocked to cover payroll and a delinquent bank loan payment. Two years later, the Pan is bought back. This time for good, and it gets restored yet again to its original yellow. Some years back the late John Parham told the story. “The bike sort of tells the story of J&P Cycles. We started our swap meet and catalog business small, began to grow, got successful, then went out of control. The bike suffered ups and downs similar to those of our lives and our business, even kept us in business when money was tight.”

Those are the high points of John and Jill Parham’s lives with John’s favorite Harley-Davidson, and he owned many. Most know John and Jill as the founders of J&P Cycles. DealerNews, a venerable motorcycle industry publication once called J&P Cycles the largest after-market motorcycle parts retailer in the world. Over the past few decades, times have been good and times have also been tough for members of the motorcycle industry like the Parhams. But in their day, John and Jill came out on top through very close attention to the details of the business, sometimes ignoring “experts,” sometimes listening, but always following their instincts.

Back in the 2010’s, when asked how many Harleys he then owned, Parham said probably about 65, with some really great bikes including a 1908 “Strap Tank” Harley. In raw dollar value the yellow Panhead is well down the list in Parham’s collection of over 250 motorcycles, but Parham then offered, “While I have been lucky enough to gather many great, rarer and much more valuable bikes in my collection, the ’55 Pan has the greatest sentimental value to me; it ties to my life experiences with my wife Jill and also to the development of J&P Cycles. Jill’s happy we got it restored back to its original yellow. I’m just happy to still own a bike that went through so many trials and tribulations with me, a bike that means so much to me.” The 1955 Harley-Davidson FL will remain in the family, going to John and Jill’s son Zach and then to the grandkids.

Motorcycle Details: 1955 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra-Glide

Beginning in 1949 the all new design Hydra-Glide with a hydraulic fork was introduced. Not since 1936 had Harley’s big twin been given such a makeover.

A new OHV big twin engine was first offered in 1948 in 61 and 74 cubic inch versions. Though the bottom end was little changed, for the first time in many years, the heads were cast from aluminum. In addition, the valve lifters were switched to hydraulic and lubrication as well as induction and combustion were improved. The distinctive valve covers are what led enthusiasts to refer to this engine as the “Panhead.”

The forks, headlight nacelle, dashboard, distinctive fenders, tombstone taillight and chrome speed stripes were among those components that received a re-design. In 1952, foot shifting became an option, in 1958 rear suspension became standard with the introduction of the Duo-Glide, and in 1965 electric starting came along with the Electra-Glide, the last model Panhead. In 1966 a new OHV engine design came on line, the one we now refer to as the Shovelhead.

Though this fine yellow 55 Panhead will stay in the Parham family, hundreds of other motorcycles and thousands of pieces of memorabilia will be offered in the John Parham Estate Collection Mecum Auction at the National Motorcycle Museum, Anamosa, Iowa, September 6 – 9, 2023. Watch for information on the Mecum Auctions website,  Mecum.com  For schedule information, to consign a vehicle or to register as a bidder for this and all Mecum events, visit Mecum.com, or call (262) 275-5050 for more information.

Specifications:

• • Engine: Air-Cooled, Overhead Valve, 45 Degree V-Twin
  • Bore & Stroke: 3.44″ x 4.00″
  • Displacement: 74 Cubic Inches / 1208 cc’s
  • Compression Ratio: 8:1
  • Carburetion: 1.30″ Schebler
  • Horsepower: 60HP
  • Primary: Duplex Chain
  • Transmission: 4-Speed, Hand Shift
  • Clutch: Dry, Foot operated
  • Final Drive: Chain
  • Brakes: Drum, Front & Rear
  • Electrics: 6 Volt Battery, Coil & Points
  • Frame: Steel / Double Down Tubes
  • Fork: Hydra-Glide, Hydraulic
  • Rear: Rigid, Sprung Seat
  • Wheels/Tires: 5.00 x 16 / 5.00 x 16 Inches
  • Wheelbase: 59.5 Inches
  • Weight: 598 Pounds
  • Top Speed: 105 mph

*Model Designations: E is for the 61 Cubic Inch engine, F for the 74. L designates higher compression. FLF indicates foot shifting.