Most people think Harley-Davidson just builds big bikes, and for plenty of good reasons. Since 1903, the Milwaukee company has defined the American motorcycle, making machines for everyone from highway police and Hollywood rebels to your neighbour in chaps and an open-face helmet. But that famous bar-and-shield logo has adorned an entire lineup of oddball products that go well beyond motorcycles.
Let’s start with golf carts. In the early 1960s, Harley-Davidson rolled out electric golf carts, a surprising detour for a company so closely linked to the rough-and-tumble outlaw image. It was a clever bit of business, cashing in on the postwar golf boom and filling a gap in the quiet, green fairways—very different from booting it down Route 66. These carts used the same rugged engineering sensibilities that powered its motorcycles and quickly found a devoted customer base. In fact, Harley golf carts are now hot commodities among collectors who value their unlikely place in the brand’s history.
The next surprise on the list is utility vehicles—or as the company called them, Utilicars. Born in the late 1960s, these squat, boxy workhorses were built for factories, airports, sprawling warehouses, and even college campuses. Harley’s Utilicar was tough, simple, and nothing like the bikes tearing up Main Street. But it was exactly what was needed in the background of America’s industrial boom, and they chugged on quietly, getting jobs done without any fuss or need for applause.
But the side hustles don’t end there. Through World War I and II, Harley Davidson produced bikes for the military, but they dabbled with trikes and delivery vehicles as well. The Servi-Car—a three-wheeled utility whiz—could be found helping mechanics fetch cars, hauling mail, and performing other odd jobs all across America for decades.
If you want truly unexpected, look at the products Harley developed for other manufacturers. The brand lent its engineering expertise to power everything from lawnmowers to snowmobiles and even small portable generators. Harley engines found their way into Worthington’s classic Overgreen golf course lawnmowers, helping to manicure fairways instead of burn rubber.
Harley-Davidson even put its stamp on boats, scooter engines, and a run of mopeds and small bikes designed for overseas markets and postwar economies. Some of these have been consigned to the footnotes of history, while others resurfaced at collector meets, sparking curiosity from folks who can’t believe what’s sitting in front of them.
While Harley’s biggest motorcycles will always steal the spotlight, the brand’s restless creativity—and occasional business panic—gave us a collection of oddball vehicles and side projects unlike anything from their competitors. Today, die-hard collectors chase down the rarest Harley-Davidson golf carts and Utilicars, restoring them as a salute to the era when America’s most famous motorcycle maker built just about anything with wheels.
Harley-Davidson’s history isn’t linear or predictable, and that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating.
