Lot 309: 1928 Indian 101 Scout

In 1923 Indian rolled out its 250,000th motorcycle, and in the same year debuted the Scout in 600cc displacement (and later in 750cc). The Scout earned and kept the reputation as the best handling racing Indian and when stroked using Chief flywheels was a potent competitor. It also did well on the street and in the showroom, a major hit for Indian.

The new for 1928 Scout �101� won top acclaim from riders as it had benefited from Indian engineer Charles Franklin�s previous Scout racing experience. This new iteration had three inches more wheelbase and a fork with increased rake and trail plus the seat height was some two inches lower than the original Scout not the mention the appearance for the first time of a front brake.

This story of this particular 1928 101 Scout begins in the year 1954 when vintage bike enthusiast and restorer Woodrow Carson received a special Christmas present from his wife and kids. While better than a tie or a purple sweater, it came without gift wrapping. In fact it came as a �basketcase,� i.e. a collection of unconnected parts that had once been a 1928 Indian twin cylinder 101 Scout. Woodrow was pleased as punch and set about restoring the machine to its previous glory and then to enjoy it as his �rider.� Woodrow�s Indian is still running strong now in its 80th year.

Delving back more than half a century we learn that during the rebuild of the bike Woodrow went looking for the correct red paint. He contacted the Indian dealer in Rockford, Illinois as he had heard that the fellow had utilized Coca Cola red to match the color when he had run out of �Springfield� red. When Woodrow found out neither pigments were available he resolved the problem was walking to the nearby Harley-Davidson dealer and buying some Milwaukee �Persian Red� instead. This bike seen here still wears that original paint. And it also carries the special glow of a much loved and well ridden machine ready to carry on that tradition as one of the most popular motorcycles ever built. Accompanying the machine is a batch of 101 Scout organization magazines, a repair and parts manual as well as a service manual.