Harley Davidson Topper Scooter

Harley Topper scooter came out in 1959 and initially came in 2 models. AU was "under 5 hp" for those states where drivers under 16 years old were restricted to under 5 hp scooters. Model A was 7 hp. In 1962 they dropped the A model and added the 9 hp AH model, which they made thru 1965. The VIN number is stamped into the top of the engine case. For example #60A6990 is a 1960 Model A, serial number 6990. There is not a frame number or ID tag. The scooter engine is NOT the same as the Harley golf cart engine. The golf cart engine used many of the same parts. It was available with electric start and was designed to reverse the engine rotation for reverse travel. It is physically larger than the scooter engine.

1960 - The "Topper," a fiberglass motor scooter, was introduced. Harley-Davidson teams up with Italian manufacturer Aeronautica Macchi S.P.A. to produce a line of smaller bikes including the Shortster and Sprint models. Italian-built lightweights were sold in America under the Harley-Davidson name. The Topper featured a pull-cord starting mechanism much like that of a lawn-mower.

http://www.hogsandparts.com/history/history_harley-davidson.html

Ref:1959 - Topper Scooters Manufacturers (Harley-Davidson, USA): This, the shame of the Harley-Davidson style division, was actually built by Aermacchi of Italy (formerly manufacturer of the Schneider Trophy seaplane). It had a 165cc DKW gas motor (a variant of the DKW 125cc gas motor taken by the US from Germany in a war reparations deal). It only went 40mph, but as it had no front brake, this was probably a good thing. Not surprisingly it had very low sales over its 5 year production period.

http://www.extremely-cheap-gas-powered-scooters.com/id61.html

1910 Harley Davidson "F" head single, leather belt drive, with original gas lamps and Klaxton push horn. Restoration completed in 2009 and rode weekly. Keven Empey