Barn Find - pretty cool old ride

[R68GTO]

Now that the Rats Nest COPO has been sold, I started looking for a new project and found this 1946 Indian Chief. I had heard rumors for decades that an old Indian was in a shed in my hometown but never saw it. With the recent passing of the owner's wife, the kids dug it out and put it in the public eye for the first time in over 50 years.
This bike has been in that family since March 9, 1957 according to the original title. The story is that the son of the original family owner laid the bike down on a local state route around 1969 or 1970 and from that day on it was in an alley shed behind their house. Amazingly enough, my uncle used to hang out with that son and actually used to ride on this very bike back in the early 1960's!
The best I can tell, this bike retains all it's original parts. The only things missing are the LH handlebar grip, voltmeter lens, horn, and positive battery cable and battery. The engine and frame numbers match and it is original paint.
My plan is to research owner history, source original parts that are missing and show the bike as/is. Eventually I might do a preservation project cleaning it up without disturbing the original finishes. Will not restore it.
The pic with one guy is my uncle (80 year old Navy vet) sitting on the bike for the first time since 1960/61. The two guys are the grandson and great grandson of the original family owner. Enjoy the pics!

[AnthonyS]

Pretty cool!

[Too Many Projects]

Very cool, Jim. Ya gotta get it running to....:wink:
My Dad had a few Indians back in the 40's and bought a '48 Harley new when he got out of the Army.

[1967 4K]

Very nice bike Jim. Get it up in good mechanical shape n ride it. 😎👍 I like motorcycles of all brands.

[dykstra]

Way cool!!

[napa68]

That's a find and a project right up my alley! Well done:biggthumpup:

[R68GTO]

It's been a while, so here's an update on the Chief project. Much like the car hobby, the vintage motorcycle hobby is full of great people that are willing to help any way they can with info, advice, and parts!
I've successfully secured original parts with patina that matches the rest of the bike. Just finished cleaning out the oil tank and both fuel tanks. Evaporust did the trick so the insides are in really nice shape now. Have the carb pulled off and will attempt to clean all the internals without removing any of the crud on the outside - not disturbing the "patina" is more difficult than you might think!
I got a some more history on the bike. The original owner lived about 10 miles from the family I bought it from. Some of his kids are still alive, but well into their '70's. Their Dad sold the bike to the family I bought it from when they were less than 5 years old, so no memories, and no pictures.
The grandson found some pieces associated with the bike while cleaning out his mother's home. The Beck battery is a replacement from the mid-60's, and the kidney belt is his grandpa's original belt from the late 1940's. The belt has two zippered pockets. Inside them were fuel receipts from 1961 that has his grandpa's handwriting on it listing the mileage on the bike at that time. Just like the COPO project, this one is a ton of fun researching history and meeting new people!

[Steve Shauger]

What a fantastic find, and great cleaned up/ maintenance project. Looks forward to learning more and seeing the progress!

[69Z11Pacer396]

Very Very cool!!

[Pro Stock John]

Very cool! How are those year bikes shifted?

[R68GTO]

Pretty cool setup - RH tank shift lever, 3 speed transmission. 1st gear is all the way forward, then neutral, then 2nd & 3rd pulling back. LH foot clutch - "heel to peel" on Indians (toe to go on Harleys). LH throttle, which is opposite from all modern bikes. RH grip actually rotates the distributor via cable to advance/retard the timing.
LH throttle was supposedly so the law enforcement officers could shoot with their right hands while chasing criminals. IDK, sounds cool though!

[Too Many Projects]

Very cool! How are those year bikes shifted?
The clutch is activated with a pedal on the left foot board and shifted with the long lever on the right side of the tank. Indian's had the shifter on the opposite side of Harley's, as well as the throttle, which is on the left handlebar.

[bergy]

Great job tracking down the Indian’s story. Really cool find!

[Too Many Projects]

To the top....need an update...:wink: