An American dream machine, a classic Indian motorcycle, is coming up for auction in September and it looks like fetching as much as £18,000.
The model coming up for sale is the Scout 741, a highly desirable classic Indian motorcycle registered in 1945.
Indian motorcycles were originally produced from 1901 to 1953 in Springfield, Massachusetts by the Hendee Manufacturing Company.
The company changed its name to the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company in 1928.
Classic Indian motorcycle enjoyed legendary status
The Indian factory team acquired legendary status after taking the first three places in the 1911 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy.
It’s easy to see why bikers still have an enduring love for the Indian classic motorcycle.
During the first decade of the 1900s, Indian became the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.
The Scout was made from 1920 to 1946, and stablemate the Chief was launched in 1922 and both were built until the company went bust in 1953.
Manufacturer of classic Indian motorcycle “shot itself in the foot”
In effect, the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company shot itself in the foot during The Great War.
As the US entered the conflict, Indian sold most of its Powerplus line in 1917 and 1918 to the United States government, starving its network of dealers.
This blow to the domestic market led to a loss of support for the brand from it never recovered.
While the motorcycles were popular in the military, post-war demand was then taken up by other manufacturers to whom many of the previously loyal Indian dealers turned.
While Indian shared in the business boom of the 1920s, it had lost its Number One position in the US market to Harley-Davidson.
The classic Indian motorcycle enjoys a renaissance
In 2011, Polaris Industries bought Indian Motorcycles and since August 2013, the company has marketed Indian motorcycles aiming to reflect the original’s traditional styling.
This classic Indian motorcycle is coming up for auction in a sale organised by H&H Classics at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull, West Midlands, on Saturday, September 2.
The bike on offer is red, in good running order, has some original paperwork, and has a pre-auction estimate of £15,000-£18,000.
More than 50 classic and collectable motorcycles will go under the hammer on the day.
If you are hankering after a classic Indian motorcycle, or any other classic or collectable machine for that matter, check out how much it will cost to insure with specialist insurance broker Bikesure.
Bikesure treats all customers as individuals and has in excess of 40 different motorbike and moped insurance schemes, for classic, collectable and regular rides, to ensure you get the best deal to match your personal wants and needs.
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