This 1952 Indian Chief is completely restored and in "delivered" original condition. The bike features foot board controlled siren and original red lights and bulbs.
This exhibit is a temporary display. It is on loan from Dr. Martin Megregian.
The original Indian motorcycle company was founded in 1901 in Springfield Massachusetts USA, by bicycle racer George Hendee and Swedish immigrant Oscar Hedstrom.
During the early 1900s, Indian became the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. Indian's most popular models were the Scout, made from 1920 to 1946, and the Chief, made from 1922 to 1953.
According to factory records, 700 Chiefs were built in 1952, while only 600 were completed in 1953.
Between 1953 and 2011, the Indian Motorcycle went through a succession of owners until Polaris Industries, Inc. purchased Indian Motorcycle Company in April 2011.
In 2013 the company offered four models: the Chief Classic, the Chief Dark Horse, the Chief Vintage, and the Chief Vintage LE.