The beautiful antique Indian motorcycle which recently sold on eBay sports a dark blue color. That’s unusual because the Indian Motocycle brand (intentionally spelled without an “r”) used red as its signature paint for early models. So the bike's rich shade of dark blue, and its use of nearly all original parts, make the 1912 motorcycle something special.
A Board Track Racer
Jack Gormley, an active member of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA), previously owned the motorcycle. The 1912 Indian spent a chunk of its life partly disassembled. But the current owner, Fred Lange Restorations - opens in new window or tab., located in Santa Maria on California's Central Coast, made it complete again.
Fred Lange is uniquely capable of the restoration. He is a custom bike builder specializing in restoring antique Indian and Harley-Davidson board track racers. His company manages the boardtrackracer46 eBay account, which offers a treasure trove of vintage motorcycle parts.
Board track racing was a popular motorsport in the 1910s and 1920s. Races were conducted on oval racecourses made mostly of wooden planks. The venues, called motordromes, disappeared during the Great Depression. But Lange—working from a modest shop located on his ranch—brings the motorcycles of that era back to life.
Lange believes the blue 1912 Indian is exceptional. He said:
It’s such a survivor. There just isn’t much of this stuff left around.
Billy Lane, the noted builder of custom bikes, uses Fred Lange Restorations as a source of rare parts. Lane created Sons of Speed, the super cool throwback motorcycle race - opens in new window or tab. inspired by board track racing.
A Glimpse into Motorcycle History
Nearly all the components of this vintage bike are original. The aged leather on the side of the seat still shows the embossed chief’s head logo.
There were a few upgrades—such as stainless-steel spokes laced into the original rims—for ride-ability and safety. Universal Tires are mounted to the rims.
The 1,000cc engine originally produced about 7 horsepower. Lange upgraded the pistons to boost the compression, doubling the power output. The machine is an air-cooled V-Twin with an intake over exhaust (IOE) valve system. The motorcycle is capable of about 50 mph.
The cylinders, heads, and carburetor were refinished using electroless nickel plating. That process helped match the factory finish. The 1912 Indian has its original exhaust.
Keeping the Indian Motocyle Legacy Alive
Indian motorcycles were first produced in 1901 by the Hendee Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Mass.—a maker of bicycles. In 1911, an Indian motorcycle won the Isle of Man TT race. The victory catapulted the brand into popularity.
In 1913, the Indian brand sold about 32,000 units. At the time, Indian had the largest share of the US motorcycle market. During World War One, Indian shifted to producing motorcycles for the war effort. The lack of availability of its products affected the company's popularity. By the 1920s, it lost its market leadership to Harley-Davidson.
The company changed its name officially in 1923. That's when it became the Indian Motocycle Company. That’s not a typo. It intentionally spelled the brand name without the “r.” The company ceased production in 1953.
In 2013, the Polaris Corporation introduced three all-new Indian motorcycles based on the brand’s traditional styling. Polaris - opens in new window or tab. makes motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, and neighborhood electric vehicles.
Meanwhile, riders of vintage bikes covet authentic antique Indian motorcycles from the early days. The rare 1912 example sold on eBay was located in Santa Maria, Calif.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.