my_first_harley

The story of how I come to own my 56 Pan is really one for the books. Kind of a Cinderella story, if you will.
I had been living in central Ohio for about 2 yrs. I was originally from Oklahoma and my parents still lived there. My Dad is really a character, he can wheel and deal with the best of them and although he doesn't have much, he still is able to get his hands on some fun toys. We once rebuilt a light airplane that he located sitting in a guys backyard. He bought it for a song and we had a blast with that thing. And that is exactly how I came to lay my eyes on a Panhead for the first time.
He was working part time for a fellow that owned a transmission shop. The guy owned an airplane and my dad is an aircraft mechanic. Well one of the guys working in the shop had this Pan that sat out in the fenced-in yard of the tranny shop. He wasn't riding it but he wouldn't sell it either. Dad had expressed interest in it many times. It was sad, the thing was just sitting there rotting away.
Well one day the guy called dad and said the Pan is for sale, apparentley this guy was needing the money for a lawyer to keep him out of the pokey. So Dad picked it up 'as is' for $4200.00 and rode it home. When he called me and said that he had bought himself an old Harley, I about fainted. I jumped on an airplane and went to Oklahoma to see it for myself.
The first time I laid eyes on that thing I was awe-struck. I had read so much about old Harley's and now here I was actually looking at one. I think I sat out in the shop for hours just looking at the thing. Even though it was a little 'worse for wear' I could see alot of potential and that engine was beautiful.
Well my dad let me drool over it for a couple of weeks and then he sprung the big news on me. He was giving me the Panhead. Not many people can claim to have a FREE Harley. That still remains the greatest gift I've ever recieved.
It didn't take me long to start making it mine. New oil bag, paint, pipes, etc. In general just cleaning it up so I could hit the road.
Over the years it has evolved into it's current form. I have done all the work myself except for a tranny overhaul that I farmed out (that was a mistake).
Here are the vitals on it: