1948 Harley-Davidson WL Flathead for Sale From the Rick Yerick Collection Is an Honest Piece of American IronModern Car CollectorShawn HenryMon, September 14, 2026 at 12:45 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleEvery so often an old Harley turns up that is less a restoration project and more a documented archaeology dig, and this one qualifies. A 1948 Harley-Davidson WL flathead is for sale right now out of the Rick Yerick Collection, offered as Lot #101 by Premier Assets LLC through Proxibid, with bidding closing September 17. It is a blue, solo-seat 45 that looks every bit the part of a postwar Milwaukee workhorse, and it comes with something most survivors of this era never do: paperwork explaining where the pieces came from.Lot #101, a 1948 Harley-Davidson WL flathead from the Rick Yerick Collection. Photo: Premier Assets LLC / Proxibid. View the listing on Proxibid.The 45-Inch Flathead Still Turns OverThe heart of the bike, and the reason the listing is worth a close read, is the 45-degree side-valve V-twin sitting in the frame rails. It displaces 45 cubic inches, or 746cc, and was rated at 23 horsepower in period, breathing through an L and L M-52 carburetor. Premier Assets notes that the motor cranks, which is a meaningful detail on a machine of this vintage. A flathead 45 that spins freely is a very different starting point than one that has been seized in the corner of a shed since the Eisenhower administration.The 45ci side-valve V-twin and primary case up close. Photo: Premier Assets LLC / Proxibid. Browse the full Rick Yerick Collection catalog of vintage motorcycles, parts, engines, and memorabilia on Proxibid.Running Gear Straight Out of 1948Everything behind the engine is pure prewar-pattern Harley. Power goes through a three-speed manual transmission worked by a foot clutch and a hand shifter, with final drive by chain on the right side of the bike. Up front is a leading-link springer fork with double springs, there are drum brakes at both ends, and the bike rolls on 16-inch spoked wheels. The auction photos show the wheels laced up and the fenders straight, which is half the battle on a machine this old.Assembled, Documented, and Honest About ItPremier Assets is upfront that the motorcycle was assembled from various original Harley-Davidson parts rather than being a numbers-matching single-owner survivor, and that transparency is a plus rather than a knock. Crucially, the bike comes with five pages of notes and parts history from the previous owner, which is exactly the documentation a buyer needs to know what they are working with. The machine carries an Ohio title with VIN 48 WL 2170. Buyers should note the full lot description lists the bike as missing its speedometer, gas shut-off, air box, tool box, and foot board; there is no key, the odometer is gone, and the ignition is unlocked. None of those are impossible parts to chase in the W-series world, and all of them are visible to every bidder in the room.Frame and primary detail, with the original hardware still in place. Photo: Premier Assets LLC / Proxibid. View the listing on Proxibid.Why the WL Still MattersHarley built the 45-inch W-series from 1937 into the early 1950s, and it became one of the quietly most important motorcycles the company ever made. It was the bike that put civilians to work, the platform behind the WLA that served in World War II, and the basis for the WR flat-track racers that shaped American motorsport. Honest, complete WLs have grown harder to find as prewar and immediate postwar iron gets absorbed into permanent collections, and a documented example like the one in this Proxibid listing is a realistic entry point into the era.The right side of the bike, showing the chain final drive and solo seat. Photo: Premier Assets LLC / Proxibid. View the listing on Proxibid.AdvertisementAdvertisementHow to Bid on Lot #101The bike is Lot #101 in the Rick Yerick Collection Auction, presented by Scott Mihalic Auctioneer with Premier Assets LLC / Mihalic Associates and Auctioneers LLC. It is located in Chardon, Ohio, and carries a 20 percent internet premium; check the special terms on the listing page for any additional fees. The sale closes September 17, and this Harley is one of many lots in a collection that also spans vintage motorcycles, parts, and memorabilia. The full Rick Yerick Collection catalog is live on Proxibid if you want to see everything else crossing the block.Join our Newsletter, follow our Instagram page, and follow us on Facebook.