1981 Harley-Davidson Sturgis

While this 1981 Harley-Davidson Sturgis is certainly a clean, stylish example of the classic cruiser look with its stretched appearance, low handlebars and blacked-out engine, its heritage is what makes it truly special.

This particular Harley-Davidson represents one of the defining moments in the history of one of America’s greatest brands. Here’s a hint: It’s serial number ends in “000013.”

This Sturgis is one of the 13 Harley-Davidsons that were customized and set aside for the 13 investors who bought the company from its corporate parent AMF in 1981.

This bike was ridden by Tim Hoelter, who worked for a Milwaukee law firm that did work for Harley-Davidson in the 1970s. He was the only member of the leveraged buyout team who wasn’t a Harley employee at the time. Hoelter later bought the bike from Harley.

Hoelter also has been a long-time supporter of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the AMA. He sat on the AMA Board of Directors when the association created the Hall of Fame. To honor both the AMA and the Hall of Fame, Hoelter donated this special motorcycle to the Hall of Fame’s permanent collection.

“It was not easy to give it up,” Hoelter said at the time. “It’s a special, special vehicle. But the AMA has always been special to me, too. I felt that rather than have it sit in my garage and be ridden now and then, it would be better for it to be where people can enjoy it—in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.”

You can see this and many other historic motorcycles that have shaped the history of American motorcycling at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio.