Today in motorcycle history, February 1, 1983

  President Ronald Reagan grants Harley-Davidson their wish.  In 1981, after years of shoulder-shrugging management and piss-poor quality control, a group of 13 investors headed by Vaughn Beals and Willie G. Davidson by the company back from AMF (we used to say it stood for A Manufacturing Forgery) for $80 million.  They petition the government for import tax relief to help them get their legs up.  In a rare act of bi-partisanship the government agrees to help. 

 

  Subject: Motorcycle Import Relief Determination

 

  "Pursuant to Section 202(b)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (P.L. 93 - 618, 88 Stat. 1978), I have determined the action I will take with respect to the report of the United States International Trade Commission (USITC), transmitted to me on February 1, 1983, concerning the results of its investigation of a petition for import relief filed by the Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Inc., and Harley-Davidson York, Inc., producers of heavyweight motorcycles, provided for in item 692.50 of the Tariff Schedules of the United States (TSUS).

  After considering all relevant aspects of the case, including those set forth in Section 202(c) of the Trade Act of 1974, I have determined that granting import relief is consistent with our national economic interest..."

 

The Evolution models are released in 1984 (Ending production of the shovelhead. Heavy sigh.) and US bikedom is changed forever.