In addition to mismanagement, Indian’s President Ralph Rogers decision to manufacture lightweight motorcycles such as the Arrow may have contributed to the company post-war decline and demise in 1953. These models were supposed to be the answer to the arrival in the US of several brands of cheap and lightweight imports. The Arrow vertical single cylinder 213cc overhead-valve engine disappointed the loyal admirers of Indian’s innovative and elegant V-twins and inline fours. The add insult to injury, the factory had warranty issues and was making no money or losing some on each unit sold. Slow and quite awkward by Indian’s standard, today’s Arrow value may be in the fact that it was one of the last models to be produced and leaving the Springfield factory. This 1949 Indian Arrow is part of the Art Bulmann Collection in Monee, Illinois. (photography @ Doug Mitchell)
Flashback. 1949 Vertical Single Cylinder Indian Arrow.
Published by January 13th, 2016 in Builders and Editorial.10 Responses to “Flashback. 1949 Vertical Single Cylinder Indian Arrow.”
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At least it’s a lot better looking than H-D’s 250 & 350 Sprints 😉 Great to see one in such nice condition.
I’m pretty sure even in 1949 guys were looking at those bags and thinking, “WTF?”
Although fragile, those Enfield motors were good looking…..
-nicker-
Dammit nicker that ain’t a Royal Enfield engine for f#@*s sake….
Why compete with Triumph and BSA at something they were the best at.
America is big V Twins and in the ol days in-line big fours………………………………………
Stick to your knitting America !! still sits right today
The marketing on this bike was the same Honda executed 10 years later, “you meet the nicest people on a Honda”. Indian used movie stars and ladies in their marketing materials. Ralph Rogers vision was good but unfortunately the bike was plaqued with issues. 2 cam gear manufacturers were contracted for the project. One mfr made them to print while the other one used a slightly different tooth cutter. On the production line the gears were mixed and the engines made noise. Generators were weak and failed. Likewise on the mag. The factory engineering writings on tthis bike were pretty cool. At least the Vertical Twin had more power. The engine design was modular and cyls could be stacked next to each other to make a twin. This was the future engine design for the Four which of only about 2 exist. Indian red color certainly looked a lot nicer than this non original blue. There is very little value attached to these models.
One of my favorite things about Indian Motorcycle is the journey and the story. It sure has been through a lot and has had many hands on (or off) the rudder in 115 years. Much like anyone’s family tree, there is some pretty silly and sometimes embarrassing stuff in the closet.
The one thing that Indian has done very well is inspire people. Time after time, there were so many attempts to save or restart the company, albeit many lacked the resources or brainpower to make it happen. I have owned an Indian dealership now for three generations of owners and have crawled through glass for this brand more than once. And that is OK…
I was and am, still inspired by the great American story and I have never been alone. DuPont, Julius, Newman, Rogers, Wine, O”Connell, Menneto and others, believed in the legendary Indian brand and were inspired by the fable too. Some did well, others, not so much.
It is the brand that simply is too good to allow to die. The road has been long, torturous and sometimes rewarding. And now, Indian Motorcycle is in the best place it has been since the 1920’s. The current Indian stewards are respectful, forward thinking and will do well by the brand as history will tell.
Stay tuned, the ride has just began (again)…
Send the saddlebags back to the Roy Rodgers Museum and I’d ride it around town 🙂 Still a very nice period piece and there’s a balance and style to it I really like.
Nice to see input by at least (2) people I’ve personally met in recent years….those being Mike Tomas and Mark Moses and the input they have provided with regard to this small bit of Indian history.
I acquired a 1949 Indian Arrow 3 years ago that was in a grouping of Chiefs, HD Panhead and the balance were 750E Honda series bikes…bobbers and a chopper. Although cobbled together and the motor was frozen, it would have been nice to have seen this article when I made a decision to part with that bike that did remind me more of a Royal Enfield in a way for my limited exposure.
The man that acquired it from me is from Illinois and although I have lost touch with him, am aware he now has that bike fully restored. At best these must be at a premium and still a bit of history that shouldn’t be forgotten.
Hi , from a long time motorcycle rider , I had a Indian model 249 which was the twin 440cc it was real nice small bike compared to my Harleys ,I made a lot of inquires as to history of the bike it was made in Hartford CT by Torque MFG which was an Indian company I sent a letter to ED Kretz who had been an Indian factory rider, and the company made a 500cc twin called the 500 cc Warrior, it was raced at Daytona be Ed and it did well ,Ed was a dealer in California in later years. .. brymob