Post by JR on May 12, 2013 7:13:25 GMT -6
I found this article and history very interesting and educational. I love reading about the history of old things especially things that were around in my early years. It seems back then one didn't pay attention to details as much but now that history is written about these machines of old a lot of things that you didn't know back then you read about now.
.indianchiefmotorcycles.com/oldinjun.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">
.indianchiefmotorcycles.com/oldinjun.htm
I myself have been wondering why Indian seemed to never be able to make it, some say they were/are superior to other cycles of their type and while this article points out a lot of things that were indeed good ideas and interventions the author which you can clearly see knew his history points out all the flaws as well.
I mean a cycle that would run 120 mph with very bad brakes? Not a very good idea, but there were other things that stood out as well. The mystery of the 55 Indian is really cool too but except for the one owner can't be verified as true either. Even then it wasn't a true factory assembled version but rather a slap together with scrap parts that was put together, sad IMO.
Seems to me that Indian was like another old company that some of us can remember well and it was the Studebaker.
Who can forget the old Studies! They were a fine automobile but they were to high priced in most cases in the 50's and in the final years up to the last models in 62. They were smooth, reliable well built and fast!
My dad owned a 62 Lark 4-door which again is the last year they were made here, some were built in Canada for a few more years but I don't remember when that ended? But even his 62 with the old tube had to warm up radio had a Ford version of the 289 in it. 3-speed on the column and overdrive! Man that thing in overdrive would hit 100 mph in second gear! Oh how I wish I had it now!
But the thing that makes me remember the Studebaker more than anything is the story my uncle always told about the Studebaker encounter in 1955.
Down in Sevier and Little River counties in SW Arkansas where I was raised in the bottoms as we call it where the Ozarks tail off into the Red River valley there is a stretch of road between Lockesburg and Ashdown for about 7 miles that is flat and straight as a ribbon, not common in Arkieland.
My uncle who after WWII had saved and saved bought himself a brand new paid for with cash Ford Fairlane. Man he loved the Fairlane. One summer day he was on this stretch of road and was clicking along at around 75mph as he said and he looked up in the mirror and almost at the same time a as he said flash went by him like he was sitting still.
He said that he put the pedal to the floor and never even got close to the car that passed him until he found it pulled over at the gas station in Ashdown and this is what passed him.
Yep the 55 Commander. He didn't get passed again, the next day with less than 1000k on that Fairlane he traded it in on a Commander!
JR
.indianchiefmotorcycles.com/oldinjun.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">
I myself have been wondering why Indian seemed to never be able to make it, some say they were/are superior to other cycles of their type and while this article points out a lot of things that were indeed good ideas and interventions the author which you can clearly see knew his history points out all the flaws as well.
I mean a cycle that would run 120 mph with very bad brakes? Not a very good idea, but there were other things that stood out as well. The mystery of the 55 Indian is really cool too but except for the one owner can't be verified as true either. Even then it wasn't a true factory assembled version but rather a slap together with scrap parts that was put together, sad IMO.
Seems to me that Indian was like another old company that some of us can remember well and it was the Studebaker.
Who can forget the old Studies! They were a fine automobile but they were to high priced in most cases in the 50's and in the final years up to the last models in 62. They were smooth, reliable well built and fast!
My dad owned a 62 Lark 4-door which again is the last year they were made here, some were built in Canada for a few more years but I don't remember when that ended? But even his 62 with the old tube had to warm up radio had a Ford version of the 289 in it. 3-speed on the column and overdrive! Man that thing in overdrive would hit 100 mph in second gear! Oh how I wish I had it now!
But the thing that makes me remember the Studebaker more than anything is the story my uncle always told about the Studebaker encounter in 1955.
Down in Sevier and Little River counties in SW Arkansas where I was raised in the bottoms as we call it where the Ozarks tail off into the Red River valley there is a stretch of road between Lockesburg and Ashdown for about 7 miles that is flat and straight as a ribbon, not common in Arkieland.
My uncle who after WWII had saved and saved bought himself a brand new paid for with cash Ford Fairlane. Man he loved the Fairlane. One summer day he was on this stretch of road and was clicking along at around 75mph as he said and he looked up in the mirror and almost at the same time a as he said flash went by him like he was sitting still.
He said that he put the pedal to the floor and never even got close to the car that passed him until he found it pulled over at the gas station in Ashdown and this is what passed him.
Yep the 55 Commander. He didn't get passed again, the next day with less than 1000k on that Fairlane he traded it in on a Commander!
JR
