Escorted Out of the Ford Club, Harley-Davidson Goes It Alone

It was always a weird partnership, but, despite ending five years ago, it seems a struggling Harley-Davidson can’t stop thinking about its ex.

For more than a decade, Ford Motor Company sold Harley Davidson Edition F-150s to consumers whose other car was a bike. The “wow” factor varied, as over the years the model morphed from an appearance package to a performance variant to a luxury castle, only to be muscled aside by a growing roster of high-end trims.

Well, Ford and Harley-Davidson are back at it, but it isn’t an official reunion.

This time, the only involvement on the part of Ford is that its F-150s serve as the basis for a conversion. Indiana-based Tuscany Motor Co., maker of illustrious custom brodozers, has come aboard to make it happen. Together, the two companies hope to generate awareness, as well as interest, among would-be owners and Ford dealers.

Tuscany and Ford go way back, as the Indiana company remains a Ford-approved specialty vehicle manufacturer and vendor. The limited-edition, 700-horsepower Shelby F-150 displayed at the 2015 SEMA show was Tuscany’s doing.

Like looking at concept trucks? Harley, which has enough on its plate already, hopes you do. The company’s concept truck (aka Harley-Davidson Truck) went live at the motorcycle maker’s 115th anniversary bash in Wisconsin on Wednesday. Apparently, this truck aims to remind viewers of Harley’s Fat Boy model, though the casual observer might insist it looks more like a 2019 Ford F-150.

On all corners, you’ll find unique 22-inch aluminum wheels shod in all-terrain rubber, and Tuscany has also punched vents in the front fenders that it claims are functional. The grille and similarly perforated bumper cap accommodate black honeycomb mesh and, in the case of the bumper, an obnoxious LED light bar. A new Raptor-style hood sees its own honeycomb.

Beneath the beast, a BDS Suspension lift and FOX shock absorbers lend the truck an off-roading prowess its 22-inch wheels might have a problem with. (Content subject to change, Tuscany warns.) Elsewhere, Harley-Davidson’s presence rings out loud and proud from every nook and cranny.

If brash driving is your bag, Harley wants to hear from you.

[Image: Harley-Davidson/Tuscany Motor Co.]