1942 Harley-Davidson Model XA

Engine: Horizontally-opposed, two-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled
Displacement: 740 cc (45 ci)
Bore & Stroke: 66.7 x 76.2 mm (2.625 x 3 in)
Power: 17 kW (23 hp)
Transmission: 4-forward, manual
Weight: 257 kg (565 lb)
Original Cost: Unknown  

The Harley-Davidson XA was designed for the US Army during the Second World War to meet a specification similar to that of the shaft-drive BMW machines used by the German Army, as noted for their reliability and low maintenance.  After an initial order of 1,014 experimental examples, no more were ordered. The more versatile Jeep was seen as the preferred general purpose vehicle, including for the Canadian Army.  Consequently, the XA never saw active service.

Chronology:

1903 - William A. Davidson, Walter Davidson Sr., Arthur Davidson and William S. Harley founded Harley-Davidson in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
1904 - Prototype machine raced in Milwaukee.
1905 - Started producing a limited number of motorcyles.
1906 - Harley-Davidson built their first factory.
1907 - Production increased and introduced their V-Twin prototype.
1911 - Introduced their improved V-twin model.
1912 - Introduced their patented "Ful-Floteing" seat.
1917 - Started producing bikes for the military and also launched a line of motorcycles aimed at the domestic market.
1920 - Harley-Davidson becomes the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.
1921 - Otto Walker, riding a Harley, set the record for the first motorcycle to win a race at greater than 160 km/h (100 mph).
1929 - Harley introduced the Model D - a flat-head V-twin aimed to compete with Indian and Excelsior. Vivian Boles drove 5,000 miles acoss the United States and Canada on a Model D.
1929-1933 The Great Depression caused sales of motorcycles to plummet but Harley-Davidson still continued to produce motorcycles.
1934 - Harley-Davidson unveiled a new line-up of motorcycles.
1936 - Knucklehead engine models introduced.
1939-1945 - Harley produced a large number of motorcycles for military efforts during the Second World War.
1969 - After years of financial troubles, American Machine and Foundry (AMF)buys the Harley-Davidson Company. To make the company profitable, AMF streamlined production and slashed the workforce, causing sales and quality to decline.
1969 - Purchased by Stan Reynolds in Washington State, USA.
1981 - AMF sold Harley-Davidson and the new investors changed operations, adding new technologies and improving quality and slowly growing the brand repuation.
1990 - Harley introduces the Fat Boy motorcyle which became the industry leader in the heavyweight motorcycle market.
2003 - Harley-Davidson celebrates their 100th anniversary.
2017 - Motorcycle restored.
2018 - Motorcycle donated to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum.