Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

FEATURE 'llie G Davidson P , roduct Development Center By Scolt Rousseau ~~ iIlie C:s heaven on earth is tucked away rath er od dly behind H arley-David - n"- so n' s Capitol Dri ve Engine Plant in Mil waukee, Wisconsin. For all of its ~ 210,330 sq uare feet and $25 m illi on expense, you mi ght expect the palatial, sparta n structu re to sta nd in a much m o re p ro mi nent pl ace on one of Ha rley -D avid son's properties. Not on yo u r life, and that 's just the w ay the Coma n wa nts it. Th e Willie C . Davidson Product Development Ce n ter , affectionately code-n amed "Wa lly World " by the man h im sel f, bea rs the highest- security level o f any building with the Harley-Davidson corporate logo. T ry to get any w here nea r the fro nt d oo r, and you w ill be sto p ped quite sho rt. For it is in thi s sacred hol y of h olies th at the H·D styling boss Willie C . Davidso n and h is small team of com patrio ts might be w orkin g on the next Super Gli de, Low Rid er, Cafe Ra cer, H erit age Springe r, insert yo u r favo rite m od el h ere. It is he re, in th is sta te-o f-the-a rt facility, tha t the H arl ey-Da vid son Motor Co m p any's fu ture will continue -to take sha pe as the co nsta n t m eld ing of traditio n a nd technology co ntinues, quite far away from p rying eyes, than k yo u very mu ch . But we got in th e ba ck door (the ac tua l publi c en tra nce to th e co m pound), an d roam ed ha lls a nd room s w her e w e wi ll probab ly never be all owed to walk aga in, as 100 journali st s from a ro u nd the world w ere inv ited to v iew the in n ar d s of H arleyD av id son' s n ew sku nk works. Two floors, ninc lab o ra tori es com p lete with engineering styling and su pport offices, 400 employees. Th e following photos are offer a mere glimpse of the tre mendous aetvity th at takes p lace in the new bu ildi ng. To capture it all w ould take volumes . W illie G. w as there. An emotional m an, and on e of few words, he me t us warm ly when he took to the podium in the employee cafeteria and , almost as if in keeping wi th the moment at h and, openly shared his innermost thoughts. "So mew here, my grandfather and my fathe r are loo king down on this,' he sai d . ..And they are smil ing." ("':\: (Above) Built at an expense of S25 million, the Willie G. Davidson Product Development Center occupies more than 200,000 square feet on a lot adjacent to the motor company's Capi to l Drive engine plant in Milwaukee. Wisconsin. (Left) Oddly enough. the public entrance to the faclilly Is actually at the rear of the building (shown). The front door Is for POC employees only, and only those with an orange "poe" sticker on the ir 1 . badges are granted access to the facility, .0 (Below) With faux mock-ups under wraps In the foreground. Willie G:s rlght-hand man. Lou Nett (part ially hidden), discusses some of the techniques Involved In producing mock-Ups fo r stUdy and consideration. (Below) The heart and s oul of the PDC Is the styling studio, wh ich Is located on the sec ond fl oor. It Is here that WIllie G. Davidson and his tiny band of stylists will continue to sNIpe future models that will be off ered by (Left) The stylin g st udio features an outdoor alcove that plays a very Important role: It allows the des igners to roll parts or bikes ou t Into the sun in order to view the products In natural li ght. Shown are fuel tanks bearing sha des of paint which mayor may not see production. The Motor Company. (Below) House of style: The conference room In the styling ~ department. A more beautiful meeting place you will never see . ., ~ R '=' r-, 0\ 0\ ,...... ...D ...... fJl ;::l 00 ;::l

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