The 1948 Indian Chief motorcycle was and stays a classic American chopper. With the trademark skirted fenders and gold trim, this bad boy was king of the road. A vintage motorcycle collector with a 1948 Indian Chief is a collector with bragging rights. The Chief done up in black and chrome was the prototypical mid-20th century American chopper.
The 1948 Chief had the accelerator on the right hand side, a foot clutch, and left hand shifter. It took coordination in order to master maneuvering one of these, but once mastered, this was one fantastic ride, from the tales of those who have been there.
The approaching bike could be identified with its distant thunder-like noise, much before it was visible. It had a 74 cubic inch (1,200 cc) head engine which was flat. This bike was manufactured by the company in an attempt to seek a last chance to thrive, after having gone through a difficult period. Although the company was deprived of business in 1953, the powerful model and technical efficiency of the 1948 Chief was exceedingly high, compared to other internationally renowned motorcycles of that period.
At the commencement of the1940s, Indian Motorcycle Company was actively engaged in manufacturing for the war activities and also for providing and repairing bikes for the Police Department. The decade was therefore, challenging one for the company. As the World War II was going on, the company performed heroically. After the end of the war, it was really hard to regain its position.
The deeply skirted fenders was an icon Indian motorcycles which were sold in 1940, that portrayed the classical Indian style. Later in 1945, the company was sold and bought out by the Torque Engineering Company.
Some years later, the company was split in two, with manufacturing becoming part of the Atlas Corporation and distribution going to the Indian Sales Corporation. This turned out to be a historical event too, but the depth of the troubles was not yet fully obvious in 1948.
Not only was the 1948 Chief a classic, but the Indian Scout was still - nearly thirty years after its debut - winning races.
Floyd Emde rode a factory-made Indian 648 in the Daytona 200 and won the race. He was leading from the start of the race and persistently went on to create a new course record speed reaching 84 miles per hour. It was a remarkable success.
1948 was, to borrow from Dickens, the best of times and the worst of times for Indian Motorcycle. Everyone could note that they knew how to make amazing bikes, but the business decisions after the end of World War II would ultimately be more than the brand could overcome.
The 1948 Chief had the accelerator on the right hand side, a foot clutch, and left hand shifter. It took coordination in order to master maneuvering one of these, but once mastered, this was one fantastic ride, from the tales of those who have been there.
The approaching bike could be identified with its distant thunder-like noise, much before it was visible. It had a 74 cubic inch (1,200 cc) head engine which was flat. This bike was manufactured by the company in an attempt to seek a last chance to thrive, after having gone through a difficult period. Although the company was deprived of business in 1953, the powerful model and technical efficiency of the 1948 Chief was exceedingly high, compared to other internationally renowned motorcycles of that period.
At the commencement of the1940s, Indian Motorcycle Company was actively engaged in manufacturing for the war activities and also for providing and repairing bikes for the Police Department. The decade was therefore, challenging one for the company. As the World War II was going on, the company performed heroically. After the end of the war, it was really hard to regain its position.
The deeply skirted fenders was an icon Indian motorcycles which were sold in 1940, that portrayed the classical Indian style. Later in 1945, the company was sold and bought out by the Torque Engineering Company.
Some years later, the company was split in two, with manufacturing becoming part of the Atlas Corporation and distribution going to the Indian Sales Corporation. This turned out to be a historical event too, but the depth of the troubles was not yet fully obvious in 1948.
Not only was the 1948 Chief a classic, but the Indian Scout was still - nearly thirty years after its debut - winning races.
Floyd Emde rode a factory-made Indian 648 in the Daytona 200 and won the race. He was leading from the start of the race and persistently went on to create a new course record speed reaching 84 miles per hour. It was a remarkable success.
1948 was, to borrow from Dickens, the best of times and the worst of times for Indian Motorcycle. Everyone could note that they knew how to make amazing bikes, but the business decisions after the end of World War II would ultimately be more than the brand could overcome.
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The 1948 model Indian motorcycle was one of the first models built after WW2. To get more details about the 1923 model Indian motorcycle follow the hyperlink.
