Indian Big Chief Motorcycle
The first 1922 model Chief had a 1000 cc (61ci) engine based on that of the Powerplus; a year later the engine was enlarged to 1200 cc (73ci). Numerous improvements were made over the years, including adoption of a front brake in 1928.
In 1940, all models were fitted with the large skirted fenders that became an Indian trademark, and the Big Chief gained a new sprung frame that was superior to rival Harley's unsprung rear end.
The 1940s Big Chiefs were handsome and comfortable machines, capable of 85 mph(136 km/h) in standard form and over 100 mph (160 km/h) when tuned, although their increased weight hampered acceleration.
In 1945, a group headed by Ralph B. Rogers purchased a controlling interest of the company. On November 1,1945, duPont formally turned the operations of Indian over to Rogers.
Under Rogers' control, Indian discontinued the Scout and began to manufacture lightweight motorcycles such as the 149 Arrow, the Super Scout 249, both introduced in 1949, and the 250 Warrior, introduced in 1950. These bikes suffered from poor quality and a lack of development.
Production of traditional Indians was extremely limited in 1949, and no 1949 Big Chiefs are known to exist.
In1950, the V-Twin engine was enlarged to 1300 cc (80ci) and telescopic forks were adopted. But Indian's financial problems meant that few bikes were built, and production of the Big Chief ended in1953
The 1950-53 Big Chiefs are the most desired Indians by collectors, although some prefer the Indian 441 four cylinder (which ceased production in 1941) or the flathead V-twin Scout (750 c.c.) production of which ended when the war ended.
Real connaisseurs prefer the 1950 and '51 Chiefs over the 1952-53 as they had the front-wheel drive speedometer (introduced in 1948 and dropped in late 1951 to save money - resulting in an ugly plug for the old drive hole in the front brake cover) and the earlier upswept exhaust and the earlier American carburettor, and bigger swoopier front fenders compared to 1952-53.
Engineering-wise, however, the very rare model 841 (made for the Army in 1944) must take the cake. It had foot shift, shaft drive, equal cooling to both cylinders, longer rear plungers, an under-seat oil tank, etc. but back to the postwar Chiefs:
Compared to the 1946-48 Chief (which had the new front end from the 841) , the 1950-53 "Blackhawk 80" or "Roadmaster" had 1300 cc. instead of 1200 (stroked, as the 74 CID bore was already at its limit), and had a modern telescopic-hydraulic fork which looks and works very well.
There was a spring on the left of the crank to absorb engine shock, and this bulge in the primary chain cover is another way to identify the later models. Unfortunately the factory lacked the money and foresight to convert the engine to OHV, and to replace the by-then archaic 3 speed, non-synchromesh gearbox.
After the factory closed in 1953 it briefly re-opened a few months later to assemble 50 Chiefs ordered by the New York City police department, which favored Indians over Harleys. (You can see some in the Frank Sinatra movie "New York, New York"). According to one source a small crew under the Bankruptcy Receiver's OK assembled 50 for the police and an extra five for dealers. It has been misreported that this occurred in 1955, creating a myth. People who were at the factory and warehouses in 1955 including Emmett Moore deny the story, and according to a reliable source known to this author one of the allegedly 1955 Chiefs has an engine number dating from the early 1950's. Mr. Moore in a 1994 interview with Jerry Hatfield said that the factory ran right out of parts early in 1953 and despite demand from hundreds of dealers across the USA simply did not have enough parts to make any more than 500 1953 Chiefs.
They couldn't get the Linkert Company to build 500 more of the old carburetors so had to use (more modern) English Amal carbs. Little bits like a chuck that holds the helper spring on the spring-post mounted dual saddles had to be purchased at very high prices. Walter Brown, a manager during the 1950's confirmed with Emmett Moore that the last Chiefs were assembled in early 1953. Among the last were those made for the NYPD, although he puts the number at 75.
article source Indian Chief And Wikipedia