The Harley-Davidson engine introduced in 1948 and named for its rocker-box shape was the Panhead.
The Panhead replaced the Knucklehead as Harley-Davidson’s principal large-displacement overhead-valve V-twin. Its distinctive rocker covers resembled inverted cooking pans, giving the engine its widely used nickname.
Panhead production continued through 1965. Early versions displaced 61 cubic inches, while a 74-cubic-inch version was also offered. The engine powered several touring and big-twin models during Harley-Davidson’s postwar expansion.
The Panhead is sometimes confused with the Shovelhead, which followed it in 1966. The names refer to visible rocker-cover shapes, not to separate motorcycle families.