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Uncommon Motors

When ordinary just won't do

1912 Harley Davidson Silent Gray Fellow in Original Rust

April 8, 2016 by Paul Crowe

1912 Harley Davidson Silent Gray Fellow Model 8A
1912 Harley Davidson Silent Gray Fellow Model 8A

You have to give Harley Davidson credit, even over a century ago, they built a pretty reliable machine, this 1912 Silent Gray Fellow, 104 years later, is still a runner! The machine is not one of those completely restored beauties, it’s exterior color is rust, or as the seller calls it, “earth.” For the early Harley collector, that’s exactly the right finish. Once you start restoration, it’s very easy to go wrong and you can’t get original back once it’s gone.

Silent Grau Fellow 31 cubic inch single cylinder engine
Silent Gray Fellow 31 cubic inch single cylinder engine

The Silent Gray Fellow Model 8A, has a 31 cubic inch single cylinder engine. The power is driven through a leather belt to a rear belt wheel that freewheels until you move a hand lever under the seat to engage a clutch which then drives the rear wheel. The hard tail frame relied on springs under the seat to cushion the jolts of the road.

Rear belt drive with clutch assembly
Rear belt drive with clutch assembly

Sure, some of you may look at a motorcycle like this and think, “no way,” but to the Harley collector and investor, it’s a classic diamond in the rough and will bring a surprisingly high sale price.

Filed Under: American, Motorcycles Tagged With: American, Harley Davidson, Silent Gray Fellow

« 1943 Kettenkrad Totally Restored – the WW2 Motorcycle With Tracks
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Comments

  1. todd says

    April 8, 2016 at 11:15 am

    Don’t dare restore it, it is only original once. This is a great survivor and, if you need something shiny and fresh to ride, there are many more less valuable new motorcycles available for that purpose.

    • Paul Crowe says

      April 8, 2016 at 11:22 am

      With this one, I’m inclined to agree. It would be a shame to see it last this long without restoration, still be capable of running and then have someone spray shiny new paint all over it. Of course, they would probably put a lot of new parts everywhere, too. It wouldn’t be right. This is the definition of “patina.”

  2. Felipe Zapata says

    April 8, 2016 at 12:17 pm

    So, which is it? Grey Fellow or Gray Fellow? The eBay seller spells it Grey. Here it’s spelled Gray.

    • Paul Crowe says

      April 8, 2016 at 12:21 pm

      Grey is the English spelling, gray is the American spelling. Harley Davidson spelled it gray.

      Silent Gray Fellow on loading dock

  3. Ryan says

    September 3, 2016 at 2:17 am

    Gorgeous!

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1943 Kettenkrad

1943 Kettenkrad Totally Restored – the WW2 Motorcycle With Tracks

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