1948 chief forks

[hairynob24]

G,day , i am wondering if anyone knows was it a common practise for this year police bikes 1948 to have the telescopic forks put onto them , say in 1950 and up . i have a mate looking at a 1948 chief with the telescopic forks , for sale and the owner is saying this is a conversion they did . i have played with indian chiefs since 1982 and have never heard this before , is there anyone that can tell me more please , cheers Rob

[PaulCDF]

Hairy
Looking in Hattfield's Restoration Guide it notes:

1949 External Changes:
"The Chief wasn't mass produced for the 1949 season due to production difficulties with the1949 Arrow single and Scout vertical twin.
Only a very few Chiefs were built with hand clutch and foot shift."

(Curiously Figure 242 shows "prototype 1949 Chief" with telescopic front fork; hand clutch and foot shift.)

1950 External Changes
"The Chief returned to the line-up in 1950 and the headline feature was the new telescopic front fork. These had black legs."

So that a Police Department would retro fit a 1948 with a new front end that was not commonly available until 1950 seems curious
Unless the 1948 girder was worn out or damaged, why replace it?

I recall seeing ads for the Vard telescopic front end that would replace the girder but again the expense.

[hairynob24]

PaulCDF thanks for your reply, I think as a replacement through an accident would be about the only real reason .

[Skirted]

Are they Indian forks like used on the 50-53? Or could be VARD aftermarket forks which was being made in that time period.

[T. Cotten]

Maybe this helps...

Vard ad.jpg

....Cotten

[ChiefTwoKicks]

genuine VARD forks are worth a grip of money these days... there is a guy in Orange, CA. building very nice replica VARD forks. VARDMFG.com you better get a second job !!
When I called him about them he said he has some parts in stock ready for shipment, I'm still looking for that second job.

C2K