Topic: Indian Chief ??

[SteveD CB500F]

My neighbour has an Indian Chief with an 800cc Royal Enfield twin engine. He suggests that only about 10 of these were ever made. This one came from the States via a few years in Holland being rebuilt.

Anyone shed any light on this?

[Bob Wessner]

Steve, found this, interesting stuff.

http://www.re-indian.com/enfield/enfield2.html

[bill440cars]

          Yeah Steve & Bob, it's true all right. They originally made the Enfield/Chief for the Indian line & continued under the Matchless name. Don't remember exactly how many years or how many were made but there were more than 10, I can assure you. It had a wider gas tank, smaller diameter (but wider)wheels and there was also a solo seat option to give it the Chief look. Pretty rare find. I hardly ever see any of the Enfield/Indian models anywhere. There were the Apache 700cc twin, Trailblazer 700cc twin, Tomahawk 500cc twin, Woodsman 500cc single, Westerner 500cc single, Hounds Arrow 250cc single, Fire Arrow 250cc single, a 3 wheel (servicecar) type 500cc single, & a small 2 stroke called a Lancer 150cc single.

                                     I'll be back,   Bill  

       BTW though, it wasn't an 800, it was actually a 700cc. I've got some parts manuals on most all of the Enfield/Indians except things that were specific to the Chief model.

[bill440cars]

 Check this link out. http://www.cycletownusa.com/post1953.html

[Bob Wessner]

Interesting, Bill. It never ceases to amaze me how much history is out there about the various brands.

[bill440cars]

Interesting, Bill. It never ceases to amaze me how much history is out there about the various brands.

        I hear ya Bob, I totally enjoy checking and seeing just what I can find on the old stuff. ItIS really something to bring info up on the ancient ones.

                                  Later on, Bill

[Bob Wessner]

A couple of us attended the All Clubs rally in Stockbridge, MI yesterday and coincidentally there was an Enfield-Indian on display. One of the singles models.

[bill440cars]

A couple of us attended the All Clubs rally in Stockbridge, MI yesterday and coincidentally there was an Enfield-Indian on display. One of the singles models.

            That is an Indian Woodsman. A 500cc Single that is for street & trail. It has "Quick Release" Head light & Tail light (the electrical connections had rubber plugs to seal up the connections, when the lights are off. Notice the "upswept" exhaust too. That one looks to be one of the later ones. The Woodsman's were made from 1955-59'. My Grandfather had a 55' model. The main obvious difference was the gastank on his was red (I think they called it Chinese Red) and it had an Indian script decal instead of that fancier metal side plate. Don't recall if they had a "Skid Plate" (to protect the engine crankcase from damage, while off road) or if folks made their own and mounted them. That's all I can think of for now.
                Thanks for posting that Bob.

                                Later on, Bill

                       

[bill440cars]

           Oh yes, if you can visualize this bike with No Lights, no speedometer and a low (standard type) exhaust pipe that is straight with no muffler but just as long as a standard pipe/muffler system, you would be looking at what was called a "Westerner" (for Scrambles Racing and such).

                                    Later on, Bill

         

[Bob Wessner]

Thought you might enjoy it Bill. I wasn't aware of the Enfield-Indian relationship at all so it was and education for me.

[bill440cars]

Thought you might enjoy it Bill. I wasn't aware of the Enfield-Indian relationship at all so it was and education for me.

           You are so right Bob. And I thought some of you might like to see part of a brochure showing the 1955 Indian Trailblazer (Similar to the the model they called the "Chief", which had a wider gas tank, smaller but wider wheels and an optional solo seat) and the 1955 Indian Woodsman, which you will see is an earlier model of the one you posted.
 
                 



                 

[bill440cars]

        Just found this 1951 brochure, even though it's a bit small. 

         


                                 Here's the back side

 
         

[bill440cars]

        Sorry, I have a tendacy to get carried away on this subject. You see, it's (what I call) "Part of my Ancestry". Just look at this last one and I'll leave it alone for a while (maybe a few minutes anyway )

         

[Bob Wessner]

Found one, in the flesh, at the Stockbridge All Brands Rally.

[bill440cars]

Found one, in the flesh, at the Stockbridge All Brands Rally.

        All Right Bob! Looks like you've found a 40's Chief there! My Dad could probably tell you what year it is, I'm not THAT good myself. A good number of them that I HAVE seen are said to usually be a 47' or 48' model though. There seem to be more of those year models around now days. Thanks for posting.

                                  Later on, Bill

[gerhed]

Bill.

My '48 in 60's dress
 

[Bob Wessner]

Neat pic. I have a thing for B/W.

What's with all the gas caps, or is one for an oil tank? (I know nothing about Indians).

[bill440cars]

Neat pic. I have a thing for B/W.

What's with all the gas caps, or is one for an oil tank? (I know nothing about Indians).

        Bob, The gas tank on those, comes in 2 parts 9a left side and a right side). The right side has 2 caps because the smaller front portion is actually the oil tank and the rear caps is really for the gas portion of the right ride of the tank. This gas tank set up is the example that I attempted to use when the discussion has come up about an alternative oil supply on the SOHCCB750s.

                              Later on, Bill

[bill440cars]

Bill.

My '48 in 60's dress
 

              Didn't mean to slight you Phil. Thanks for the shot of your Chief, good to see the old bike still around. Do you get the chance to get it out now and then? I'll bet you get some looks with that one! Lots of folks don't really know THAT much about the old Indians. I don' really know ALL that I should know, all things considered. I would trally like to have gotten with my Grandfather after I got back from the Air Force and had a good sit doen with him on that stuff, but he died while I was gone.

                                       Later on, Bill

[bill440cars]

    Hey Bob (and all who might be interested),

               Here's a 1959 brochure (last year of the Enfield/Indian) that I had found some time back and had since forgotten where it was. I found it again though, so, here it is ( a bit small. Sorry)

           



         My Favorite of the bunch is the Apache (of course it's the fastest too! ) Only thing is, if you look, you'll see that there is some distance between the rear fender and the seat. Well, for the 58' & 59' models, for some unknown reason, they mounted the rear fender to the swingarm so that it would go up and down with the rear wheel! . The 57' (1st year model) had the rear fender mounted solidly to the frame and looked 1000% better, IMHO! Also, if you'll look, the Chief is at the head of the brochure next to the Trailblazer (my 2nd favorite).

                                 
                               Later on, Bill

[bill440cars]

       Hey!  I stayed away for a little while, didn't I? Found another version of the Enfield Chief.

       



        And here's where Matchless came into the picture. They sold the CHief and used the Indian/Enfield model names on their motorcycles. 


     

[DarkRider]

About the only experience i have with an old indian is the lil dirt bike that a friend had..looked something like an SL350 if i remember right..had a headlight and some pavement oriented dual purpose tires..it was 250 cc..

[gerhed]

"Old" Indian brochure

[antiq]

Since you guys like old bike trivia and seem adept at finding such. I'm wondering if any of you have knowledge or pictures of the bike I learned to ride on back in the sixties. It was a little peugeot that might have been about 70cc or 90cc. I remember it had a translucent gas tank made of plastic.