Vehicle Description
Matching #'s 1947 Indian Chief Roadmaster.Engine # CDG8477 - BMVIN
# 3478477Wonderful survivor in excellent condition.Recently
acquired from collection in climate controlled storage.The Chief
was introduced as Indians heavyweight competitor to Harley-Davidson
and lasted for 31 years. In 1922, 21 years after the company began
building bikes, Indian launched the Chief with a 61 cubic inch
flathead V-twin, although a larger 74 cubic inch bike, called the
Big Chief, was an option. The 61-inch Chef only lasted until 1928,
when it was discontinued, but the 74-inch flathead engine remained
until 1950. Indian remained faithful to the principle of a flathead
and in doing so escaped some of the pitfalls that Harley-Davidson
encountered in their efforts with overhead valve designs.Aside from
the engine, the Indian was actually rather unconventional, with its
left-hand twist grip (apparently so that policemen would be able to
use their pistols with their right hand), a foot clutch, hand shift
and the ignition advance controlled by the right handlebar grip. A
3-speed gearbox was standard, but a 4-speed gearbox and a reverse
gear were options.Before the Second World War, front suspension was
by leaf spring, but in the postwar years this was changed to girder
and coil springs. Rear suspension, meanwhile, went from an
un-sprung hard-tail to a coil spring plunger. The Indian Chief
benefitted from a range of spectacular paint colors after E. Paul
DuPont took control of the company (after the merger of Indian with
DuPont motors) in 1930 and these eye-grabbing paint finishes made
for one of the most distinctive external features of Indian
motorcycles. The instantly recognizable art-deco skirted fenders
first appeared in 1940 and were accompanied by large leather
saddles with a chrome plated grab rail for the passenger.After
World War II, the Chief was the only Indian motorcycle to return to
production. In the postwar years, the V-twin made 40 bhp and could
propel the bike to 85 mph, but more aggressive cams, careful tuning
and a magneto ignition made 100 mph a reality, and 35 mpg was
possible. In 1950, telescopic front forks came out and the engine
was stroked to its final 80 cubic inch size. At 550 lb, the Chief
was no featherweight, but its mass was actually quite manageable
until it came to stopping, with the tiny drum brakes now being
considered unequal to the task.Postwar Chiefs also received a
smoother siamese exhaust, and a new instrument panel and chrome
Stewart Warner speedometer dominated the tank. Needle bearings in
the front forks were replaced by bushings with grease fittings, and
the frame crossmember behind the seat became a curved section of
square tubing. An illuminated Indian chiefs head placed right atop
the front fender became the bikes most iconic feature.The postwar
years saw Indian flounder with smaller twins that never got
properly developed, but the Chief continued on as the companys
standard bearer until the very end of production in 1953.The Indian
Chief is one of the few legendary American motorcycles that isnt a
Harley-Davidson, and these days sound examples of the Chief are
much prized and many have been beautifully restored in the Easter
egg colors for which they are best known. Once the rider gets used
to the idiosyncrasies of the controls, the Chief is still a fast,
elegant and even reliable way to travel America.
