1981 Harley-Davidson Heritage Edition

The 1981 Harley-Davidson Heritage Edition motorcycle was a mixture of old and new, and only 784 of these machines were produced for 1981.

Harley-Davidson celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1978, and one of the product highlights of that year was the return of an 80-cubic-inch V-twin, absent from the line since World War II.

Soon afterward, the "retro" look came into vogue at Harley-Davidson, a styling trend that continues to this day. One of the first products to combine these two features was the 1981 Heritage Edition.

The 1981 Harley-Davidson Heritage Edition motorcycle had a two-place saddle, headlight nacelle, green and orange paint, and other features seen on classic Harleys of yesteryear. It was also equipped with modern suspension and brakes.

Only 784 Heritage Editions were built for 1981, and the model did not return in 1982. With its time-honored styling and low production numbers, the Heritage itself has now become a coveted classic.

But perhaps overshadowing any of Harley-Davidson's product offerings in 1981 was a much larger event that took place in June of that year. After more than a decade under the AMF banner, a group of Harley-Davidson employees arranged financing and bought back the company.

While production and profits both increased under AMF, quality didn't. After the buyout, employees and enthusiasts alike took a new pride in Harley-Davidson.

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