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Difference between revisions of "Harley-Davidson Servi-Car"
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==Concept and uses== | ==Concept and uses== | ||
The Servi-Car was designed during the Great Depression when Harley-Davidson was desperate to expand its product base to increase sales.<ref name=Chronicle68>Mitchel, D. "Harley-Davidson Chronicle - An American Original" p. 68-69 Publications International Limited, 1997 ISBN 0-7853-2514-X</ref>. Targeted at the automotive service industry, the vehicle was designed to be towed behind a car to be delivered to a customer; when the car was delivered at its destination, the driver would unhitch the Servi-Car and ride back to the garage.<ref name=Chronicle88>Mitchel, D. "Harley-Davidson Chronicle - An American Original" p. 88 Publications International Limited, 1997 ISBN 0-7853-2514-X</ref><ref name=ServiCarHistory>[http://www.dl45homepage.com/servihistory.html Servi-Car Homepage - History]</ref> For this reason, it was available with a tow bar at the front and a large 60 Ah battery. | The Servi-Car was designed during the Great Depression when Harley-Davidson was desperate to expand its product base to increase sales.<ref name=Chronicle68>Mitchel, D. "Harley-Davidson Chronicle - An American Original" p. 68-69 Publications International Limited, 1997 ISBN 0-7853-2514-X</ref>. Targeted at the automotive service industry, the vehicle was designed to be towed behind a car to be delivered to a customer; when the car was delivered at its destination, the driver would unhitch the Servi-Car and ride back to the garage.<ref name=Chronicle88>Mitchel, D. "Harley-Davidson Chronicle - An American Original" p. 88 Publications International Limited, 1997 ISBN 0-7853-2514-X</ref><ref name=ServiCarHistory>[http://www.dl45homepage.com/servihistory.html Servi-Car Homepage - History]</ref> For this reason, it was available with a tow bar at the front and a large 60 Ah battery. Originally intended for mechanics to collect vehicles for repair, it proved ideal for traffic police and meter maids, becoming something of an American institution. | ||
In addition to its intended use for car delivery and retrieval, the Servi-Car was also popular as a utility vehicle for small businesses and mobile vendors. They proved to be particularly popular with the police departments, some of which still used Servi-Cars into the 1990s.<ref name=VINcheckServiCar /> | In addition to its intended use for car delivery and retrieval, the Servi-Car was also popular as a utility vehicle for small businesses and mobile vendors. They proved to be particularly popular with the police departments, some of which still used Servi-Cars into the 1990s.<ref name=VINcheckServiCar /> | ||