Shoulda, coulda, woulda...

I have been reading "A Century of Indian", by Ed Youngblood.  It's well known that the seeds of Indian's demise may well have been sown in 1936 when, in the midst of the depression, Harley had the courage and foresight to innovate the overhead valve Knucklehead.  Meantime, Indian hunkered down and continued to produce their Flattie.

It took Indian way too long to recognize that their venerable Chief was a capable chassis powered by an antiquated engine and transmission, dolled up with streamlined tins. 

What I didn't know, till reading this book, is that Albert Crocker, of Crocker motorcycle fame, started in Indian's engineering department in 1909.  In 1935 Crocker and Paul Bigsby developed and manufactured the incredible Crocker motorcycle.

In 1940, Crocker offered to sell his design and manufacturing rights to Indian...  Imagine if Indian had taken him up on that offer...





Another road not taken involved the famous Vincent V-Twin engine.  Indian evaluated a prototype for a new-concept Chief powered by a Vincent Series B Rapide engine.  The running prototype exceeded 100 mph.  I have seen pictures of "Vindians", but considered that they were Frankenstein hybrids emerging from some backyard garage; I didn't know Indian had seriously considered this option.  Unfortunately, Vincent was in their final death throes too.

So Indian put all their eggs in the vertical twin basket.  That might have worked too, if they had Edward Turner to design it.  Unfortunately they didn't, and the Wigwam didn't live long after that.