1947 Indian Chief Roadmaster
American dream
March/April 2010
By Phillip Tooth
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Ken Smith's 1947 Indian Chief Roadmaster.
Photo by Phillip Tooth
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When it comes to American style, few bikes match the Indian Chief, which continues to influence motorcycle styling decades on; witness Kawasaki’s 1999-2005 skirted-fender V-twin Drifter. While the Japanese copy might be a nice bike, it doesn’t come close to the original. It’s like being offered sushi when you ordered a juicy 18-ounce T-bone steak.
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There were three Chief models in the 1947 range, available in either Jet-Black, sparkling Seafoam Blue or brilliant Indian Red enamel. The cheapest trim level was the Clubman, which still came with plenty of chrome. It had chrome gas tank caps, front brake lever, ignition cable tube, exhaust system, horn face, rear spring shrouds and gearshift lever, a shiny alloy trim running either side of the front fender, a chrome air cleaner cover, chromed rear bumper and that iconic “War Mascot” Indian head fender light. Costs were kept down with painted handlebars, wheel rims and crash bars.
The next rung up the ladder was the Sportsman, which had all the chromed parts of the Clubman, but the handlebars, crash bars and headlamp were chrome plated, too. The Sportsman also got an Indian “De luxe” saddle.
But if you wanted the full touring package and had a fat billfold you’d likely choose the Roadmaster. This had all the chrome and equipment of the Sportsman, but added a Sport windshield, chromed twin spotlights, saddlebags with chrome rivets, a chromed handlebar cross-tube and the new Indian “Chum-Me” seat with adjustable springing so “you could take your best friend along, too.”
The holy grail of lucky finds
Philadelphian Ken Smith bought his 1947 Chief from the original owner’s grandson. “When I went to look at it, it was covered by an old Army blanket. I lifted up a corner and saw the original paint Seafoam Blue fenders and factory-fitted twin chrome spotlights and saddlebags, and I knew that this was something special,” Ken recalls. He soon realized Grandpa hadn’t been satisfied with an ordinary top-of-the-range Chief. He wanted to personalize his touring Indian to make it stand out from the crowd.
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Resources
www.indianmotorbikes.com
www.indian-motorcycles.com
Parts
www.jerrygreersengineering.com