Harley-Davidson: more than just America’s motorcycle
From vintage motorcycles to cast-iron toys, Harley-Davidson memorabilia draws collectors well beyond motorcycle riders.
By Sheila Gibson StoodleyAugust 11, 2026
A 1939 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead motorcycle sold for $33,000 plus buyer’s premium at Morphy Auctions, Denver, Pennsylvania, in July 2026. Image courtesy of Morphy Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.NEW YORK — William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson grew up in the same Milwaukee neighborhood, bonded in part by a shared fascination with mechanics and design. Harley had worked in a bicycle factory since he was 15, and Davidson was a manufacturing pattern maker. In 1901, the two attended a vaudeville show where a performer rode a three-wheeler propelled by a small engine, an image said to have sparked their idea of fitting a motor to a bicycle.Soon after, the two men began trying to build a similar engine to power a bicycle and recruited a few friends to assist. These included machinist-engineer Ole Evinrude, whose name is now famous for boat motors, as well as Davidson’s brother, Walter, a railroad machinist. They first developed a small engine in 1901, then built a prototype motorcycle in 1903. The first Harley-Davidson Motor Company factory was a 10-by-15-foot shed in the Davidson family’s backyard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Today, Harley-Davidson sells more than motorcycles. It touts a lifestyle centered on finding freedom and adventure on the open road. Harley-Davidson sold more than 130,000 new motorcycles worldwide in 2025, and the brand remains one of the most recognized in the world, beloved by riders, especially for its customized bikes, dubbed “choppers.” The company’s HOG (Harley Owners Group) has more than a million members worldwide.Harleys are deeply entrenched in pop culture as well, appearing in many television shows and movies, such as Peter Fonda’s ride-or-die Captain America Harley in Easy Rider from 1969. An especially memorable Harley cameo came when Arnold Schwarzenegger rode one in Terminator 2: Judgment Day from 1991. That particular bike, a Fat Boy, has become one of the most recognizable motorcycles in cinema history.Harley’s so-called “bar and shield” logo, dating to 1910, is world famous, with a horizontal bar inscribed “Harley-Davidson” laid across a shield bearing the words “Motor” and “Cycles.” Harley-Davidson’s own archives note that no company records confirm who designed the logo or what inspired it. The logo has remained essentially unchanged for more than a century.Signs are favorite targets across various collecting fields, with early porcelain and neon signs typically among the most wanted. Examples that were displayed outdoors at Harley dealerships and show their wear well command strong prices. Recent auction results confirm that the market for Harley-Davidson memorabilia remains active and wide-ranging, from vintage motorcycles and cast-iron toys to period oil cans and original race posters.A Harley-Davidson Motorcycles bar and shield tin sign with neon border sold for $550 plus buyer’s premium at Morphy Auctions, Denver, Pennsylvania, in July 2026. Image courtesy of Morphy Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.Tin advertising signs are especially prized among Harley-Davidson collectors, particularly examples that pair the company's bar and shield logo with a neon border. A Harley-Davidson Motorcycles bar and shield tin sign with neon border sold for $550 plus buyer's premium at Morphy Auctions in July 2026. Even without working neon, signs in good condition remain popular with collectors looking to furnish a garage or den.A Hubley Harley-Davidson Hill Climber cast-iron motorcycle toy achieved $925 plus buyer’s premium in December 2025. Image courtesy of Milestone Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.Cast-iron toys made by the Hubley Manufacturing Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, are among the most sought-after Harley-Davidson collectibles. Hubley produced a range of Harley-Davidson motorcycle toys from the 1920s through the 1950s, and examples in good original condition regularly draw strong competition at auction. A Hubley Harley-Davidson Hill Climber cast-iron motorcycle toy made $925 plus buyer’s premium at Milestone Auctions in December 2025. The Hill Climber, with its distinctive crouched rider, is one of the most recognizable and desirable of all Hubley motorcycle models.A Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Two Cycle Oil 8 oz. can made $375 plus buyer’s premium in February 2026. Image courtesy of Morphy Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.Oil cans are collectible in their own right and have a loyal following among petroliana enthusiasts. Even small examples can draw serious sums depending on the age and brand. A Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Two Cycle Oil 8 oz. can, bearing the classic bar and shield logo and the Milwaukee, Wisconsin address, made $375 plus buyer’s premium at Morphy Auctions in February 2026. The vivid orange-and-black label, in fine condition, made this a particularly appealing example.An original 1955 Pikes Peak Grand Prix Harley-Davidson motorcycle race dealer poster achieved $850 plus buyer’s premium in February 2026. Image courtesy of Kraft Auction Service and LiveAuctioneers.Paper ephemera connected to Harley-Davidson’s long racing history occupies a special place in the collecting world. Original race posters, dealer banners, and event programs from the mid-20th century are increasingly difficult to find in good condition. An original 1955 Pikes Peak Grand Prix Harley-Davidson motorcycle race dealer poster, celebrating a victory by Don Tindall on a Harley-Davidson K model at Colorado Springs on September 5, 1955, made $850 plus buyer’s premium at Kraft Auction Service in February 2026. The bold yellow-and-red design captures the competitive spirit of the era.A Stern Harley-Davidson pinball machine scored $2,750 plus buyer’s premium in April 2026. Image courtesy of Jaybird Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.Every collector has their own approach to seeking Harley-Davidson memorabilia. Some may choose to focus on signs while others are more into the bikes themselves. There is no wrong way to build a collection, and there is enough Harley-Davidson material on the market to outfit a whole room or garage. A Stern Harley-Davidson pinball machine, branded “Live to Ride” and featuring the bar and shield logo prominently on the cabinet, scored $2,750 plus buyer’s premium at Jaybird Auctions in April 2026. Pinball machines bearing the Harley-Davidson name appeal to collectors of both arcade games and motorcycle memorabilia.Collectors with less room to work with can avail themselves of smalls, such as pins, patches, lighters, toys, steins, and barware. The near-universal popularity of Harley-Davidson has given rise to a truly staggering range of collectibles. Its brand name can be found on jewelry, knives, clocks, and figurines. The breadth of the category means that almost any budget can find a foothold, and the depth of the market means that serious collectors can always find something new to pursue.Sheila Gibson Stoodley writes about auctions in North America for Antiques Trade Gazette. She has been the associate editor for Auction Central News and has written and edited for Robb Report, Art & Antiques magazine, and Andrew Harper online. She also authored The Hot Bid, a blog devoted to intriguing and delightful lots coming up at auction.
