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Looks like if all the planets align, tomorrow I will be the proud owner of my first Indian... A Chief 74, 1938 Rigid. I always wanted a "Skirted" Chief, because visually they are the most representative of the breed (in my eyes). But in the end, I wanted leaf front suspension, rigid frame and prewar bike more than skirted fenders and postwar suspension.
Bike is in nice shape and running sweetly. But paint is old and faded. Sort of a semi-well-done 1970's paint job in two-tone brown. Not my favorite.. Lots of gas damage. It needs a refresh. Also has 16" fatty tires on it, so I'll re-string the wheels to 18", which I think will run much better on that machine.
Wondering what the best references are for graphics? Did they use a decal, or was the 'indian head' painted on? FYI, I am planning to repaint the sheetmetal in deep red. Matching a deep Indian Red is no problem... and if I am going to have only one Indian, it needs to be red! But certainly interested in finding out more about the details of the paint work than I have now. There are some 200 books on H-D on my shelves. But only one on Indian... need to expand my library, methinks.
I have 'The Iron Redskin' and it lists paint colors for the era, including a solid deep red. I also have seen a lot of very vivid paint schemes on the Indians from that era, too. Two-tones. Some pretty wild colors, etc. Anything to sell bikes in the Depression! Were the 'red' bikes a rarity or do people just gravitate towards the more vivid schemes in restoration these days?
Last, when did the skirted fenders come in on the Chief? I have seen pictures of Four's with skirted fenders and leaf front springs. And I think the Sport Scout had skirted fenders before 1938... I gather from The Iron Redskin that it was 1939 or 40 that the skirted fenders came in on the Chief, but the technical details there are a bit thin. Doubt I can 'have my cake and eat it too' with skirted fenders on a '38, but thought I would ask those who know. I know I could make a set fit, but if they were not available in '38, I won't go that route.
I'll post pictures tomorrow night when I get it home!
Cheers,
Sirhr
Bike is in nice shape and running sweetly. But paint is old and faded. Sort of a semi-well-done 1970's paint job in two-tone brown. Not my favorite.. Lots of gas damage. It needs a refresh. Also has 16" fatty tires on it, so I'll re-string the wheels to 18", which I think will run much better on that machine.
Wondering what the best references are for graphics? Did they use a decal, or was the 'indian head' painted on? FYI, I am planning to repaint the sheetmetal in deep red. Matching a deep Indian Red is no problem... and if I am going to have only one Indian, it needs to be red! But certainly interested in finding out more about the details of the paint work than I have now. There are some 200 books on H-D on my shelves. But only one on Indian... need to expand my library, methinks.
I have 'The Iron Redskin' and it lists paint colors for the era, including a solid deep red. I also have seen a lot of very vivid paint schemes on the Indians from that era, too. Two-tones. Some pretty wild colors, etc. Anything to sell bikes in the Depression! Were the 'red' bikes a rarity or do people just gravitate towards the more vivid schemes in restoration these days?
Last, when did the skirted fenders come in on the Chief? I have seen pictures of Four's with skirted fenders and leaf front springs. And I think the Sport Scout had skirted fenders before 1938... I gather from The Iron Redskin that it was 1939 or 40 that the skirted fenders came in on the Chief, but the technical details there are a bit thin. Doubt I can 'have my cake and eat it too' with skirted fenders on a '38, but thought I would ask those who know. I know I could make a set fit, but if they were not available in '38, I won't go that route.
I'll post pictures tomorrow night when I get it home!
Cheers,
Sirhr
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