Willie G. Davidson

William Godfrey Davidson
Born1933 (age 90–91)
Other namesWillie G. Davidson
OccupationMotorcycle designer
Known forChief Styling Officer for Harley-Davidson
RelativesWilliam H. Davidson, father
William A. Davidson, grandfather

William Godfrey "Willie G." Davidson (born 1933)[1] is an American businessman and motorcycle designer, and the former senior vice president & chief styling officer of Harley-Davidson Motor Company.[2][3] He was also the head of Harley-Davidson's Willie G. Davidson Product Development Center in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.[4] While being generally responsible for approving Harley-Davidson motorcycle designs, he also personally designed several motorcycles for Harley-Davidson, including the Super Glide and the Low Rider, which pioneered the factory custom motorcycle and created an intermediate line of motorcycles between their large touring models and their smaller Sportsters.[5][6]

  1. ^ Davidson, Jean (Jun 1, 2003). "Davidson Clan Family Tree". Growing Up Harley-Davidson: Memoirs of a Motorcycle Dynasty. Voyageur Press. pp. 16–17. ISBN 0-8965-8569-7. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  2. ^ bizjournals: Willie G. Davidson Executive Profile
  3. ^ "Harley-Davidson Styling Chief Willie G. Davidson to Retire After 49-year Legendary Design Career", Press release, Harley-Davidson, March 16, 2012
  4. ^ Bandit Interviews Willie G.
  5. ^ AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum – 1971 Harley-Davidson Super Glide
  6. ^ Mitchel, D. (1997). Harley-Davidson Chronicle – An American Original. Publications International Limited. p. 234. ISBN 0-7853-2514-X.