Thanks man, for Harley newbys like me this makes it reasonably simple.
Cheers,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Last year of the shovelhead was '84, not '85. Also, the 45ci flathead was in production in the Servi-Car until '73,

Fair few "mistakes" in that list.

The "W" engine pictured began production in '36. Earlier side-valve engines (VL) were different.
'36-47 "U" series missing.
Shovelhead (2) was from '66 to '69.
Shovelhead (1) '70 until end.
Shovels and Evo's overlapped by 2 years.

If we're going to be completely pedantic, we could add ironhead sportsters and evo sportsters, note the difference between genny shovels and alternator shovels, twin-cam JDH engines, early v-twin eight-valve engines, add the V and U series flatties and maybe even split the 45ci flatties into DL, RL and WL models... Even WR models. Then there's all the varied capacities... : ) Easyriders magazine gave away the last Shovel off the production line, an FLHS, in a competition in 1984. It seems a small number of Shovels were made for police orders in '85 with '85 VIN numbers, though I'd bet they'd have been assembled from existing parts.

I know, that's why I didn't bother dividing shovels into genny/alt versions in my first post. I did include a smiley in the second...  : ) 

Thanks Lurker, I had been wondering about the different names, how they came about and the vintage of each. Rough enough was good enough for my curiosity.

If I was planning on "investing" in one of the past icons I might seek more detail from the many resident experts.

On a lighter note: the first knucklehead picture looks like an insect/alien with buck teeth.  But "buck tooth alien" probably doesn't have the same ring as knucklehead.  

For anyone interested in the history of Harley-Davidson I can recommend this book. It's a bit old now but it tells it how it really was and in that respect it's better than the factory's own sanitised version. My own copy, given to me by my late father, was lost to floods some years ago. http://www.amazon.com/Harley-Davidson-Milwaukee-Marvel-Harry-Sucher/dp/0854294775

The Pan is a '48. Only year with Springer front. Hydraulic forks came in '49 with the Hydra-Glide, the Duo-Glide came in '52 with suspension at both ends.

Duo-Glide Pan was released in 1958 model year, not '52

You're right. 1958 it was. Senior moment...

Good effort Lurker, some good general info there even if not 100% historically correct..... but I think you indicated that in the original post. There will always be the keyboard heroes that will try to shoot others down regardless.... don't they realise what dropkicks they make of themselves????

Wasn't having a shot at you Dave and thanks for the additional info, as it turns out I agree 100% "information is valuable"............

If we allow horizontally opposed twins like the transverse XA as a 180 degree v-twin, the longitudinally mounted Model W from 1919-1923 also qualifies.

: ) I think that pretty much covers it. Apart from the new 500cc and 750cc v-twins...