Indian

The Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company, America's oldest motorcycle brand, was founded as the Hendee Manufacturing Company by George M. Hendee and C. Oscar Hedstrom in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1901, two years before Harley-Davidson Motor Company. more...

Hendee and Hedstrom were both bicycle racers, Hendee having been the "high wheel" champion. In 1914, Erwin "Cannon Ball" Baker drove an Indian motorcycle from California to New York in 11 days. It was around this period that the Indian was the greatest selling motorcycle in the world.

In 1922, Ralph Hepburn dominated professional track racing for the Indian Motorcycle company. That year, he rode his Indian motorcyle to victory in the 300-mile National Championship Motorcycle Race at the Meridian Speedway in Wichita, Kansas.

E. Paul du Pont bought Indian Motorcycle in March, 1930, and took over as president. According to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Ohio, du Pont saved Indian from financial ruin.

In 1940, Indian sold nearly as many motorcycles as its major rival, Harley-Davidson. At the time, Indian represented the only true American-made heavyweight cruiser alternative to Harley-Davidson.

The company went on to manufacture other products such as aircraft engines, bicycles, boat motors and air conditioners. Manufacture of all products was halted in 1953.

The most popular models were the Scout, made prior to WWII, and the Chief, which had its heyday from 1922-53 (although 1949 production was extremely limited and no 1949 Chiefs are known to exist).

A new company began manufacturing motorcycles badged under the famous Indian name in 1999 after purchase of the Indian Trade Mark based around a newer version of the Scout, and also produced Chief and Spirit models. These bikes were made from off-the-shelf engine and frame parts based on the venerable Harley-Davidson design, but nearing the completion of an all-new engine design, the company succumbed to bankruptcy again in late 2003 after a major deal fell through.

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