This British serial numbered example was restored in the UK around 2001 and has been shown at numerous WWII gatherings. Photos courtesy Barry Ring at www.muddy-ring.co.uk
One last day in March so I’ll try to squeeze one last military vehicle in. After posting the Zundapp earlier this month, it is time to give American motorcycles their due. 35,044 Indian 741-B motorcycles were built for the Allied war effort between 1941 and 1943 with the bulk of production completed in the first year. Only about 3,100 were built in ‘43, all were manufactured in Springfield, Massachusetts, about 2 hours from here. The Indians were powered by a 500cc (30.5 cid) side valve engine delivering 15 hp. The 741-B was based on the civilian Scouts. Indian also built about 1,000 841 models which used shaft drive rather than a chain and these were used extensively in the deserts of North Africa by U.S. and British troops alike. According to archivist David Page, more than 3,500 of the 741Bs were also shipped to New Zealand in 1942 and were used by the New Zealand military there until the late 1940s. Another side note to the New Zealand bikes, most of the 741s and all the spare parts were sold off to a company in 1960 who then sold off the parts to other restorers, but only after building 38 complete bikes from the donor units and parts. If you ever run across one of these 38 bikes, the engine serial number will start with the letters EV, after the company that rebuilt them. They would be extremely rare, especially on this side of the world.
After losing the front cylinder, Barry got some expert help and restored the engine with oversize pistons and rings bringing the displacement from 500 to 563 cc.
More information from David Page and about WWII Indian motorcycles is available online at www.indianmotorbikes.com
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