Armand's
'61 Panhead from Namibia
Story by
MetalMan
Photos by Armand H.
Here's a story of the kind you don't hear every day. It's about a Harley-Davidson panhead, vintage 1961, that started life as a state police bike in South Africa, and ended up in the hands of Armand H. in Walvis Bay, Namibia, on the west coast of Africa, in the southern part of the continent.
Armand spent much of his life riding dirt bikes in the deserts of West Africa, and started riding Harleys about 10 years ago. Last time I heard from him, he and his father had 3 or 4 big twins between them. The panhead you see on this page is one of them.
Below left is a photo of the panhead as Armand's father bought it at an auction back in the early '70s. (By the way, that's Mr. H. posing with the refurbished bike at the bottom of this page.) Several years ago, his father passed along the old "copsickle" and Armand turned it into the more modern-looking cruiser in the middle and right photos. When he first sent along pics several years ago, Armand wrote, "I have changed it a little. I always wanted to have a Fatboy, so I added a Fatboy front mudguard, a sissy bar, Corbin Gunfighter and Lady seat, and buckhorn handlebars. It looks quite nice. I have also converted it to 12 volts with a new generator and added an S&S Super 'E' carb."
He always knew he would eventually restore the bike to as close to original as he could. Given the total absence of service, support, and parts for Harleys in that part of the world, it would be a somewhat daunting task. Back in 2000, he purchased a more reliable scooter in the form of a 1995 Bad Boy, and the pan went "into retirement" so Armand could finally start the restoration.
As I recall, it didn't take Armand more than a year to bring the old girl back into the condition you see it in here. Take a look at the photos and let us know if you feel this isn't one good looking panhead.
"How do you like the seat and panniers?" he asked. (For those among you not familiar with the term, "panniers" is French for "basket." That's what they call saddlebags across the pond.) The leather used in their restification, as well that for the buddy seat, came courtesy of a "former" Namibian Kudu. (If you wanna know what a kudu is, you'll have to look that one up yourself—this ain't school!)
A few months back, Armand sent me this note. "I got flattered today by a German tourist who desperately wanted to buy the pan. He offered US$15000 cash, but I had to decline the offer." We're glad to hear that. This gives us hope that someday Armand may sell *US* this sharp example of Harley-Davidson history!
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