Royal Enfield

Anglo-Indian Accord
When is an Indian not an Indian? When it’s an Enfield Indian, which is different from an Indian Enfield. Of course it could be a Velocette instead. Or a Vincent. We think. Sort of. Story: Ned Shaw.

With the first of the new 100 cubic inch three-valve V-twin Indians expected to roll off the production line next January, Indian is a name which still evokes some of the strongest of responses with classic motorcyclists. Most, however, think of big side-valve V-twins and heavily valanced guards.

But, contrary to popular belief, there were a number of other badge-engineered Indians and, for 30 years between 1953 and 1983, the Indian motorcycle was kept alive by these alternative Indians. Two of the most worthwhiile efforts at creating an alternative Indian were the Redditch-built 700cc indian Enfield Chief and the delightful 500cc Clymer Indian Velocette.

Phillip Doland has five of these motorcycles among the 30+ bikes he owns: one Velo and four Enfields. He has also formed a register for owners of the Clymer machines.

Although some Indian lovers will hotly debate the point, the best shot Indian had of staying alive was through Clymer’s efforts which produced the 750 Interceptor-based Indian Enfield and Velo. And it was, inadvertently, Clymer’s involvement in Indian which has led to much of the wrangling over the current use of the name.

After starting work at the age of 14, around 1909, Clymer moved into distributing, dealing and racing the motorcycles he loved - Indians. After World War Two, he established Cycle magazine and set up a successful automotive publishing house.

Meanwhile, the British firm Brockhouse was providing motorcycles to extend the Indian range. This ultimately led to the Redditch Enfields being sold as Indian models with names like Trailblazer and Westerner.

As an aside, during this period Phil Viincent put together one prototype Indian Vincent. This employed a modified motor, which, while housed in an Indian chassis, would match other Vincent Rapides for speed.

Already supporting the ailing Indian company, from 1949 Brockhouse began financing Indian and, in 1950, bought it out completely. But, suffering from a case of excessive managerialism and a failure to develop its V-twins apace of Harley-Davidson, Indian was split into two companies, one for manufacturing and another for sales.

Unable to meet the retooling costs for a new, overhead-valve engine, the manufacturing arm, owned by Titeflex Corporation, closed in 1953. This spelled the end of the big V-twins for which Indian is best known and, according to some “purists”, was also the end of Indians as such.

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