The old motorcycle was on Allan Kehrley’s radar for the better part of 70 years. Having been in the Wagner family’s care since the 1940s, it was little used, especially in recent decades. That 1930 Harley-Davidson Model D ended up the type of survivor that is almost unbelievable, its olive-green paint with maroon-edged vermillion striping exhibiting a timeworn patina that’s both rich and honest. The chance to own — and eventually operate — such an original motorcycle seemed once-in-a-lifetime, so when that opportunity arose for the Kehrley family, they seized it. Recommissioning the “45 Twin” would test Allan’s ingenuity and skill, and allow him to study the unique aspects of the Harley’s design.
Last autumn, we traveled to Liberty, New York, to photograph the 1929 Ford Model A closed-cab pickup belonging to Allan and his wife, Pat; this restored truck will appear in an upcoming edition of Hemmings’ popular annual “Model A Ford” calendar. As we arrived, we found Allan in the garage tinkering with the Harley-Davidson, which he’d
