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1938
Indian-4 "Bobber Special" This
is a one owner bike. Max bought it new in 1938, and stripped it for competition,
making the "California Bobber" you see here. He fitted Vard forks, replacing
the standard leaf spring items, enlarged the intake manifold, and did
some tuning to make this probably the hottest Indian Four in existence.
Max won the Greenhorn Enduro on it in 1947, a famous desert race in southern
California. Winning the Greenhorn was an accomplishment in itself, but
what made Max's win remarkable is what he won it on. An Indian four is
hardly the ideal desert racer, as it is heavy, has a long wheelbase, and
not too much ground clearance. Max was a tough guy, and at age 80 plus
is today a tough old buzzard. I am proud to include Max as one of my friends
and fellow riders, and it keeps me busy sometimes keeping up with him
on road runs. Max will be riding this four for some years yet, I have
no doubt! The '38 was the first year of the "new" engine, which was to
be the final production four. It displaces 78 cu, in., and retains what
was by then an antique configuration, intake over exhaust valve gear.
Cylinders are cast in pairs, and heads are aluminum. The engine is very
smooth, and this one has a louder than average bark from its straight
through exhaust.
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Click
and drag the QTVR image below to rotate the Indian 4.
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