The famous Harley-Davidson Panhead engine, which knowledgeable people affectionately call a frying pan (or a saucepan - which gastronomy is closer to whom), was in service for 17 long years - from 1948 to 1965. But even today, half a century after the end of production of this engine, many aftercarquet companies are producing replicas of the famous twin! .. Because Panhead is really an iconic and, as many believe, the most beautiful Harley-Davidson engine!.

The history of Panhead began long before its debut, starting in 1936, when the American motorcycle manufacturer introduced its first OHV big-twin, the 61 Overhead, known as the Knucklehead. "Knucklehead" (as the nickname of the motor is literally translated) was the most important achievement of the Harley-Davidson company of the first half of the last century, allowing the company to survive the difficult times of the 30s and continue its development. However, by the beginning of the next decade, it became apparent that the engine was in dire need of an upgrade! Which was the "new-old" Panhead, based on the 61 Overhead.

Work on the creation of a new engine was carried out even during the Second World War! And although the Panhead introduced in 1948 was structurally in many ways similar to the engine of the previous generation (which is generally characteristic of Harley-Davidson V-twins, the basic principles of which are inviolable and unchanged, like the recipe for a classic cheeseburger), it was a globally modernized unit, the potential of which was enough for nearly two decades.