This was the last year my grandfather worked at Indian. When they were "rebranding" back in the 90's the company approached him and the only other original engineer living to try to convince them to come work for them. They even floated getting what was remaining of the old Springfield factory back together to sweeten the deal. My Grandfather looked at their designs and business plan and told them to take a hike in his most French Canadian old New Englander kind of way. Unfortunately, he didn't leave much memorabilia behind. Ive always wanted a '47 Chief, but at 6'3" it would look like a kids bike under me.
My late pater owned essentially an identical machine in the early 1950s in England. Except that it had a transfer of an Indian Chief on the tank. The make essentially did not exist in England then, and as a steelworks carpenter I would love to know how he acquired it? In those days around 800 men set off early each morning on either a motorcycle or push bicycle to work at the plant. It was simply a means of transport, not revered or even a hobby, and indeed paint little attention to. Any motorcycle having a drive chain (most in the U.K.) would have such boiled clean every few months. The rare car was only ever owned by management.
This bike, a 1941 willy's 2 door business coupe, a 1959 Cadillac, and an old alpa Romeo spider in my garage would do nicely. And an old International pick up for work. Yes.
My uncle had a '47 Chief he bought in 1969 when he came back from Vietnam and was stationed at Ft Hood. Said be bought it at a place that used to be a gas station that was converted into a used bike lot. Said the place was full of old Harleys and the 1 Indian. Owner told him to take his pick for $400. Beautiful bike, but I have no great desire to ride an old bike with a suicide shifter. He rode it for a few years then sold it to a buddy. Said he regretted selling it until the day he died.
I would like to see "new Indian" come out with a model that closely imitated the 40's thru 50's "look", much less mass, chain drive, slimmer rear fender, simple headlight, no electronics. How do you remove a flat rear tire with wheel , single handed, on the side of the road?
Man I am Glad that freakin Kick Stand Didn’t grab the asphalt and hop that bike....! I have done that same trick more times than I can remember........🙄👀
