This 1950 Indian Chief underwent an early-1990s restoration at Elmer Lower Restorations of Etters, Pennsylvania, that included a repaint in yellow along with rebuilds of its 80ci V-twin and hand-shifted three-speed transmission.
The bike was subsequently displayed and judged at Antique Motorcycle Club of America events in 1995 where it scored 98 points at the Sunshine Chapter National meet, 99 points at the Perkiomen Chapter National meet, and 96 points at the Chesapeake Chapter National meet where it was accepted into the Winner’s Circle. Equipment includes a sprung leather solo saddle, engine and rear frame guards, a foot-operated clutch, a telescopic fork, plunger shocks, a custom two-into-two exhaust system, a windshield, a luggage rack, saddlebags, and a Linkert M-series carburetor.
The bike was acquired by the seller in 2019, and subsequent work included installing a Kiwi electric starter and 12-volt conversion kit, changing the oil, and replacing the distributor cap, condenser, fuel petcocks, drive chain, and tires. This Chief is now offered with the seller’s records and correspondance, spare and removed parts, and a clean Florida title in the seller’s name listing it has a 1951 model.
The fuel and oil tanks were rebuilt and the bodywork was refinished in yellow over a black frame as part of the restoration. The bike features skirted fenders, a removable clear windshield, footboards, a side stand, and a rear-fender-mounted locking toolbox. Brightwork includes a front fender headdress light and fender tip, fender-skirt trim, engine and rear frame guards, rear luggage rack, rear fender guard, headlight bucket, and one-year-only “flat-back” spotlight assembly. The sprung center-post seat is hinged at the front and is upholstered in black leather with a debossed Indian logo. Black leather saddlebags are embellished with silver nailhead trim, conchos, fringe, and polished mounting plates.
Chrome 16″ rims are laced to hubs with drum brakes at both ends and were mounted with Avon Safety Mileage MkII tires in 2019. Suspension is provided by a first-year telescopic fork as well as a pair of frame-mounted chrome plunger shocks at the rear.
A chrome handlebar carrying brown Indian-branded grips and dual mirrors, a left-side twist-grip throttle, and a right-side spark-advance and front brake lever is clamped by pullback risers that frame the adjustment knob for a friction-plate steering damper. The chrome tank-top dash panel is situated between chrome filler caps for gasoline and oil and features a 120-mph Indian speedometer that was replaced as part of the restoration. The five-digit odometer shows 5,500 miles ridden since completion of the restoration, approximately 100 of which were added by the seller. True mileage is unknown.
The 80ci flathead V-twin was overhauled during the restoration and is equipped with a Linkert M350 carburetor as well as an Auto-Lite distributor ignition. A custom two-into-two exhaust system with chrome fishtail mufflers was installed in the mid-1990s, and a Kiwi electric starter and 12-volt conversion kit including a generator, battery, and lights was added in 2020. A replacement distributor cap, condenser, and fuel petcocks were fitted at that time. The oil was changed in preparation for the sale.
Power is sent to the rear wheel through a rebuilt three-speed sliding-gear transmission with a heel-toe foot-clutch pedal and a right-side hand-shift lever as well as drive chain that was replaced in 2020.
The number 3501477 stamped on the frame decodes as follows:
- 3 (model) – Chief
- 5 (decade) 0 (digit) – year of manufacture (1950)
- 1477 – last four digits of the engine number, a photo of which can be viewed in the gallery.
Spare parts are included in the sale along with parts receipts and the seller’s correspondance with Elmer Lower and the AMCA.
