This Incredible 1955 Harley-Davidson Panhead Chopper Is Pure Bliss From North Carolina

Parts fabrication may be their bread and butter nowadays, but what really drew the public’s attention to Prism Supply in the first place were their fully-fledged projects. At present, the team is made up of eight individuals operating in a repurposed fire station, with Zach and his brother Jake at the helm. For better or worse, the huge volume of client orders means they don’t get as much time to indulge in complete builds as they’d like to.

Nonetheless, you’ll surely be in for a treat whenever they do come up with a custom hog, and the one shown above definitely hits that sweet spot. Commissioned back in 2021 by a California-based client and good friend named Ryan, the motorcycle has a Panhead engine from 1955 at its core. It is honestly as good as a Harley-Davidson chopper can ever get, which is just what we’ve come to expect from Prism Supply.

The V-twin powerplant may be from the mid-fifties, but that hardtail frame had once belonged to an older 1948 model. It was painstakingly refurbished and repainted gloss-black, with some deliberate blemishes showcasing its ripe old age. At the front end, the skeleton is mated to shiny springer forks, and these are topped with a very tall custom handlebar in true chopper fashion.

Minimalism is the name of the game in the cockpit area, with the handlebar only carrying a new throttle and some plain rubber grips from Prism Supply’s very own aftermarket catalog. There are absolutely no unessential bis to speak of, not even a single switch or control lever. Further ahead, we see a vintage-style headlight with LED componentry fitted inside.

Unsprung territory is home to custom wheel hubs laced to fresh rims, with the front hoop measuring 21 inches in diameter. As you’ve probably noticed, there is no such thing as a front brake on this Panhead chopper, so all the stopping power comes from a single drum at the back. That might be rather sketchy in terms of practicality, but it’s not like Ryan will be using this thing as his daily commuter or grocery-getter.

The choice of rubber was made with cosmetics in mind, as well, comprising vintage-looking tires on both ends. In terms of bodywork, the central component is a peanut-style gas tank from Hap Jones, fronting a sprung saddle made in the typical chopper style. The upholstery was done using some old leather that’s aged like fine wine.

Beneath the saddle lies a bespoke oil tank fabricated in-house, and there’s a neat rear fender installed a bit further back. It’s topped with an additional seat pad wrapped in the same type of leather as the main saddle, then you’ve got that rad sissy bar supporting the mudguard near the back. Made of stainless steel, it carries a classy LED taillight with its associated wiring wrapping around the right tube.

The whole construction at the rear is just as enticing as the bike’s front end, adorned with the same level of quintessential chopper flavor. Of course, the experts at Prism Supply went to town in the powertrain sector, too, first getting the classic Panhead motor rebuilt inside out. Once it was as good as new, it came time to add the custom touches.

On the one hand, the kick-start pedal gained a very cool little add-on to further enhance the Harley’s retro charm, and gear changes are now performed through a jockey shifter. It’s located on the left along with the rear brake pedal, while the foot-operated clutch lives on the opposite side. Some new breathing equipment was also on the menu.

A custom air cleaner is placed on the intake side of things, but the real star of the show is that stainless-steel exhaust system. It runs a two-into-one layout on the right-hand side, ending in a fishtail tip close to the wheel hub. When it came time to address the paint job, the lads kept things simple with an all-black colorway for the bodywork and frame.

Other bits and pieces were either wrapped in chrome or polished to a mirror finish, with a nice bit of patina left on the engine covers. This breathtaking custom chopper is sure to have onlookers questioning whether it was built recently or half a century ago, which is precisely what Prism Supply sought to achieve here. Even if you’re not a chopper fan, you’ve got to admit that the crew’s handiwork is top-notch!