1902 Indian Camelback
Moto-cycle
This moto-cycle is documented as the oldest Indian moto-cycle in the world. Numerous prototype machines were built and tested in 1901. In 1902 the machines were offered to the public. This machine is the 76th Indian ever built for the public.
Indian was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1901 by two former bicycle racers, George Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom. The Indian motorcycles for "motocycles" as Indian called them then] were popular from the very start. Indian went on to become, at one time, the largest motorcycle company in the world, and had a continuous production run of over 50 years.
The first Indian model, which would remain largely unchanged for the first three years, was powered by a single-cylinder engine with an output of 1.75 horsepower.
The motorcycle displayed here was restored using the original parts. Even the wood rims are the ones that originally came on the bike, and the original coil still works.