Showing the patina of remarkable originality, this Indian represents some 19 years of innovation since George Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom first signed the company’s founding contract on the back of a paper envelope, then setting out to design a “popular motorbike.” This machine helped fulfill that goal.

It was Indian’s chief designer Charlie Gustafson who in 1916 came up with the 986-cc side-valve engine. Indian sent Cannonball Baker to Australia in that same year where he established a world record of 1,027 miles in 24 hours on a Powerplus. The first women to travel coast to coast in the U.S. were sisters Adeline and Augusta Van Buren, both on the Powerplus. In 1917 and the U.S. entry into WWI, most of the entire production of the machines “joined” the army.

The side 42-degree, 61-cid. V-twin produced 7 -hp with speeds of 60-mph and beyond. This bike features a generator and thus electric, rather than acetylene, powered lighting for both headlamp and taillight. Very original, it even retains its frame mounted bicycle pump.

From the Sigal Collection, it is rightly revered for its milestone connection to the Indian MotoCycle Co. In its present condition, this “96-year old survivor” is a virtual time machine that deserves to be preserved as such.