35
HISTORY
Prototype and two production
units successfully designed, built
and tested. The “first” Indian
Motorcycle
®
was demonstrated on
May 30th, 1901 in Springfield, MA
and reached speeds of 30mph.
1901
Indian Motorcycle
®
co-founder
and chief engineer Oscar
Hedstrom sets world motorcycle
speed record (56mph).
1903
New York Police Department
selects Indian Motorcycle
®
for
first motorcycle police unit.
1907
Racing activities are suspended
as the company supplies the war
effort with 41,000 machines.
1916
With the onset of World War II,
focus again shifts to providing the
War Department with motorcycles.
The government of France orders
5,000 Chiefs with sidecars.
1939
Production during the war
years is mainly military
and police vehicles.
1940
Herbert “Burt” Munro rides
his modified 1920 Scout
™
setting a land-speed record
at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
A record that still stands.
1967
Polaris
®
buys Indian Motorcycle
®
and adds another legendary
brand to its strong stable of
heavy-weight products.
2011
A new era of Indian Motorcycle
®
is born, starting with the reveal of
the Thunder Stroke
™
111 engine
at Daytona Bike Week in March
and the unveiling of the 2014
Indian
®
Chief
®
at the Sturgis
®
Motorcycle Rally in August.
2013
Indian Motorcycle
®
returns to
its rightful position on top of
the motorcycle industry, and its
brand is recognized globally as
genuine, aspirational and iconic.
2014
And
Beyond
