Vehicles · United States · 1940-1945
Harley-Davidson WLA
military motorcycle
The WLA was Harley-Davidson's military adaptation of its civilian WL model, a 739cc V-twin built for the US Army from 1940 and produced in large numbers after American entry into the war, earning the nickname "Liberator" in Europe. About 56,000 were built during the war, and the largest single recipient was the Soviet Union, which received roughly 30,000 via Lend-Lease; it also served with British, Canadian and other Allied forces across the Western, Mediterranean and Pacific theatres. Wartime production machines were stamped with 1942-dated serial numbers regardless of when they were actually built, giving rise to the common "42WLA" designation.
| engine | 739cc air-cooled V-twin, 25hp |
|---|---|
| weight | 540 lb (dry) |
| top speed | 75 mph |
| produced | ~56,000 (WWII) |
Western Europe, Mediterranean and North Africa, Pacific
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