Indian Four And Indian Motorcycle Line
The’27 Indian motorcycle line-up included the Indian Scout, the Indian Chief and the Indian Ace. Any’27 Indian motorcycle would be considered historic because’27 was the year Indian acquired the assets of the Ace Motorcycle Company and started producing what would become the Indian Four…
1927 was a historic year when a number of things happened together. The first talking movie called The Jazz Singer, with Al Jolson was released. Next event that took place was trans-Atlantic flight of Charles Lindbergh to Paris. Finally Babe Ruth hit his 60th home run in a 8 innings game between New York and Washington with Louis Gehrig coming up for further battering.
Though farmers were facing a tough year – tough enough that many of them sold out and became tenant farmers, America was at the peak of the Jazz Age in’27. The Indian Motorcycle Company was having a fine year as well.
Not only were its top models, the Scout and the Chief, selling well, the company also acquired the assets of the Ace Motorcycle Company. Ace’s top of the line bike was the four cylinder machine that Indian made for one year under the name “Indian Ace.” Afterwards, this big, luxurious bike would be called the Indian Four.
Indian Four bike from the Indian Motorcycle was built till’42. originally known as Indian Ace this bike got 77 cubic inch (1,256 cc) four cylinder machine in’41. It was fitted with tank-shifting three speed transmission and famous Indian fender. After’42 with the start of World War II the production of Indian four was halted altogether.
America and Indian Motorcycle together were walking ahead in the year’27. The major customer of the Scout and Chief brand from Indian Motorcycle was the police department. So much so that the company had to have a new department dealing with the supply to the police force. They also saw to it that the bike had a new lower frame.
But they possibly didn’t know just how important the 101 Scout from the year’28 would be. And in’27 they could hardly know that 40 years into the future an Indian motorcycle would set an Under-1000 cc speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in northwest Utah.
A’27 Indian Motorcycle is a rare find today. The few specimens that have been tenderly restored to the attractive machines they started out as can sell for as much as $30,000. Clearly,’27 was a great year for the Indian Motorcycle Company.
The 1927 Indian motorcycle is an all time classic. If you would like to know more about another classic; the1947 Indian motorcycle model click on the link.
