1947 EL Model

During World War II, Harley-Davidson produced very few civilian bikes. When the war ended, the company returned its focus to the domestic front, increasing production by at least 4,000 bikes each year from 1945 to 1948. The postwar growth required new facilities, so Harley-Davidson purchased a factory on Capitol Drive in nearby Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. The same time period also saw renewed vitality in design and engineering. The 1947 Model EL was the first bike to receive any changes since 1942.