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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia
• Sale Date:
  30 Apr 2017 ~ 2.30pm
• Lot #:
  26
• Lot Description:
  1918 INDIAN POWERPLUS 61CI MODEL N
  Held in current family ownership for over 50 yearsEngine no: 82K983. This motorcycle will be sold unregistered.
• Notes:
  The remarkable Indian Powerplus represents the formative years of innovation following George Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom first signing Indian’s founding contract, which set into motion the fabled vision to build a popular motorcycle. The Powerplus fulfilled this dream and in so doing has become a cornerstone of the Indian brand. Charlie Gustafson was Indian’s chief designer and in 1916 he designed the 986cc side-valve engine. Indian was so confident in this motorcycle they sent Cannonball Baker, whose most famous victory was in 1909 at the first Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to Australia the same year where he established a world record of 1,027 miles in 24 hours on a Powerplus. And, in addition to this startling achievement, the first women to travel coast to coast across America were sisters, Augusta and Adeline Van Buren, both riding a Powerplus. Once the U.S. entered the First World War in 1917, most of the Powerplus machines produced were subsequently seconded to the war effort. Featuring the side-valve 42-degree, 61ci, V-twin, 3-speed producing 7hp, the Powerplus could achieve speeds of 60 mph and beyond. This well preserved machine offered at auction by Mossgreen was bought by Mr. Ian Donaldson some 50 or more years ago from an elderly man in the Western District of Victoria who was purportedly the original owner. Donaldson took on the challenge of restoring the big V-twin engine, 3-speed gear box, multi controls and front and rear suspension. Factory bonded clutch plates replaced the woven riveted-on material originally used. For safety he saw to re-spoking the 21” well-based rims to the 40 hole hubs into which he set Timken roller bearings. Ian Donaldson owned and rode this 1918 Powerplus with reliability and the utmost pleasure for more than 50 years until he passed away recently. This dearly loved motorcycle, rightly revered for its milestone connection to the Indian MotoCycle Co., in its current patinaed condition, is a 99-year old time machine that deserves to be preserved forever. Not only does this Powerplus underpin one of the greatest motorcycle brands on earth with its extraordinary early engineering development and its unique stories and achievements, it is believed to have been held in only two ownerships in nearly a century. It shares its amazing life story with 2 of the most famous motorcycle exploits of the 20th century, that of Cannonball Baker and the Van Buren sisters. This Powerplus has its very own story of romance, as Ian Donaldson and his wife Christine both rode and shared a love of vintage motorcycles throughout their years together. According to the family, the motorcycle was running when it was stowed in the garage a few years ago, but has not been tested recently. Most certainly a gem and most definitely a jewel in Indian’s crown this legendary motorcycle would make a magnificent, rideable and enviable addition to a worthy Indian collection to be used and appreciated for many years to come.
• Estimate:
  A$30,000 - 35,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.