1957 FLH Hydra Glide Readers Ride
In 1957 Harley Davidson manufactured 5,616 big twin motorcycles. The FLH Super Sport Solo model came with the hand shift and only 165 were manufactured with an out the door price tag of $1,243. Here is one of 165 that is still on the road, thanks to people like Perry from the California Bay Area.
Perry found this bike through Walnecks after about six months of looking for a good buy on an old Harley. The bike came out of Oregon with a fresh engine and tranny rebuild and was about 80% complete when he bought it in October 2007. Perry tells me he didn’t get it up and running until February 2008. He does admit it’s nowhere to being a politically correct restoration with the mini ape hangers, or the Duo-Glide rear bumper, and he pointed out they didn’t have white wall tires until ‘58’.
I think Perry has one rare good looking old Harley. What do you think?
Some facts on the 1957 Hydra-Glide;
Models manufactured; 1,579 FL, 164 FLH, 1,259 FLF, and 2,614 FLHF.
1957 was the last year of the Hydra-Glide and the hard-tail frame.
New tank emblem is round Lucite disc, with 2 red and 2 silver quadrants with red “Harley Davidson” name. This and the new front fender tip was HD’s first use of plastic for emblems.
Steel alloy valve guides (starting February 1st), instead of bronze exhaust. The exhaust guides were threaded to trap oil. Polished aluminum rocker covers, shorter pushrods w/longer adjusters, thinner speedo cable. The “Big Bertha” saddlebags were optional for 1957 only.
That is one sweet piece. Even though they didn’t have the whitewalls in ’57, they just make the bike. And the apes make a statement that it is a rider not just a show piece. Congrats. Perry. We are all green with envy.
-Peace
Comment by Allen — November 23, 2009 @ 4:05 am
Very nice, may not be original but slightly personalized is always better to me.It is always fun to cruise around on something that nice and different then everybody elses!!
If you like it do it!
Grunge
Comment by GRUNGE — November 24, 2009 @ 7:08 pm
I am always impressed with bikes from this era… Yet it cannot be denied that Hartley stands alone in this genre.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Comment by Jack Riepe — November 25, 2009 @ 6:39 pm
Perry , you did good , Stan Dishone would be pround of that piece . Appletree lane forever?
Comment by george — November 26, 2009 @ 3:25 pm
I have had the privalidge of riding with Perry while on his ’57. This bike is beautiful parked and in motion. Watching an old bike being managed while going down the road, especially when having to shift or stop, is poetry in motion!
Comment by Robert Koller — November 27, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
nice 57 pan what size handle bars on the bike ,how tall.
Comment by ralland — December 2, 2009 @ 6:07 am
The bars are 13″ Flanders with stock risers.
Comment by Perry — December 3, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
Where did you find the front fender tip i am looking for one for mine. Thanks so much Donna
Comment by Donna Miller — December 28, 2009 @ 6:18 pm
It was on the bike when I bought it. I’ve been told there are repops out there but I haven’t seen one. I know a guy that paid $200 for an OEM.
Good luck!
Is your bike a restoration or a rider?
Comment by Perry — December 29, 2009 @ 7:43 pm
[...] has been a welcomed guest post by Perry from the West Coast. Perry’s 1957 Pan was a featured Readers Ride on this site back in November of [...]
Pingback by Iron Man Stan Dishong | Electra Glide In Blue — January 28, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
A beautiful bike. I have just acquired the same from my father and it has not run for over 25 years. It’s a project I hope turns out as fine as yours.
Comment by Tom Wilkinson — February 14, 2010 @ 5:56 am
Tom,
Thanks for stopping by. You should check out the American Iron forum over at
http://www.caimag.com/forum/, real friendly place to hang out, and if you have any questions about your newly acquired ride, the knowledge base over there for old iron is the best on the web.
Comment by Electra Glide In Blue — February 14, 2010 @ 7:58 am
Tom, thanks for the kind words.
Is your Pan mostly stock? It’s good that you know the history so there’s not so many surprizes. I’d like to see some pictures.
I agree 100% with the comment about the caimag forum. Check it out, maybe you can post some pictures there.
Hope it goes well!
Comment by Perry — February 14, 2010 @ 9:29 pm
I hear Perry has broke down and bought himself a set of black pipes to fit the beast , Way to go Perry !
Comment by george — December 31, 2010 @ 10:45 pm
I have acquired a 57 FLH Harley Davidson. It has a foot shifter on it. Is this the original shifter for that year? Also, my front fender has a FLH badge on the bottom. It has a yellow light at the front of the fender. It also has a tomb stone tail light. The engine is stamped as a 57FLH but I’m unsure if it is has the original tanks, fenders, etc.
Thank you,
Travis
Comment by Travis — June 5, 2011 @ 7:00 pm
Travis,
Harley started phasing out the hand shift in 1952. This was the first year they offered the foot shift and mouse trap booster for the hand clutch. The last year for the tombstone tail light was 54. I’m thinking the FLH badge was added later. The yellow light also sounds wrong without seeing it.
I’m really not qualified to give definitive answers. You need to get the Panhead Service Manual, the Complete Catalog of Spare Parts 1949 to 1957 and, if you can find one, How to Restore your Harley Davidson by Bruce Palmer. Even if you’re not doing a restoration the parts book will answer most of your questions and the Service Manual will help you keep it running.
Good luck!
Comment by Perry — June 6, 2011 @ 11:34 am
Also check out this link to the Harley Museum for 1957 production numbers;
http://www.harleydavidsonmuseum.com/1957-motorcycle-models.html
Comment by Perry — June 6, 2011 @ 1:04 pm
Perry,
Thanks for the information. Happy ridding. Travis
Comment by Travis — June 8, 2011 @ 3:58 pm
I am in great need of a 1957 flh front fender tip. I have looked and looked. Would you have any idea were I could find one?
Comment by Travis — November 26, 2011 @ 7:03 am