Looking for vehicles that might help it rebound after the Great Depression, Harley-Davidson created a three-wheeled motorcycle known as the Servi-Car.
They were available with a bigger battery and a front-mounted tow bar for use by automobile service facilities that would work on a customer’s car and then deliver them back to their owners with the Servi-Car in tow to provide a ride back to the shop for the delivery mechanic.
But they became much more popular with people who sold things out of the large rear-mounted cargo box and especially with police departments for traffic and parking enforcement duties in cities.
Servi-Cars were produced from 1932 to 1973.
The Pick of the Day is one of those police department versions, a 1967 Harley-Davidson Servi-Car that the private seller advertising the trike on ClassicCars.com says was originally purchased for use by meter maids working for the police department in New Albany, Indiana.
“We used this several different ways,” the seller says in the advertisement. “My wife is an insurance agent and we often sponsored little league baseball teams. I put advertising on the storage box and pulled up to the games with a trunk full of drinks – big hit!
“We’ve shown up at parties with all the liquor in the back — BIGGER hit!
“With its large storage box, this is an excellent option for tooling around town running errands.”
The seller reports that the Servi-Car has been restored, has a leather seat and rebuilt engine, and shows 36,688 miles on its odometer.
Though the engine isn’t specified in the advertisement, Servi-Cars of this generation usually carried Harley’s “W” generation 45cid (750cc) V-twin flathead engines.
Servi-Cars were the first civilian Harleys equipped with electric starters, in 1964.
The Pick of the Day Servi-Car is located in Lanesville, Indiana, and offered for $13,500.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
How practical and timeless.
So many applications for such a vehicle even today.
Makes one wonders about our so called ‘progress’ in transportation vehicle design.
HD should continue making these, it makes so much sense.
Now this is what some of the restaurants food delivery services , such as Waitr, should be using. It would be so cool.
I’ve always loved that style of bike even as a kid i remember seeing one and thinking one day I’ll buy my own but life has a way of making things hard for a person and right now i couldn’t afford it no matter how hard i try bit I’ll never gave up on owning one.
I have the exact same model same year with the left hand throttle and right hand shift. Mine is all original and unrestored
How cool to have one all restored. Wish you would have posted some photos with you comment. Enjoy your classic!
I recently sold my pearl
white "07" Heritage that looked old style like the front end of the "Servi car" shown here but traded for a "13" Tri Glide that is awesome. My husband even likes it and he is a 100% 2 wheels for life man! That says a lot for my Tri which has a storage area on top just behind the passenger seat and a large trunk that opens from the back end, plus so many extras that I could make you crazy with the list but, I must tell you that one of them is reverse, yep no more torture on my knees to back out of a tight spot. I love it and so happy to have 3 wheels now that I am in my "60’s", tho I do miss my 2 wheel Pearl, she was my classic, show em if ya got em string of beads for sure!
My father had a service car back in 1967 Now it just sits in the back yard Covered hes gone and went to heaven and now I’m trying to get rid of it It hasn’t been driven in about 20 years so And now I would like to sell it My father purchase Harley Davidson service car At auction many years ago If anyone’s intrested please text me thank you
Contact Rick on on bike I’m in Oregon