1919 Henderson Four (Lot S60) We’re less than two weeks away from the start of Dana Mecum’s 39 Annual Spring Classic, known as the Indy auction, which kicks off on Friday, May 8, and continues through Saturday, May 16, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. As of today (April 28), there are 109 motorcycles listed on the Mecum website that are up for sale at the Indy auction. More are being added as the auction draws near. In our previous posts, we highlighted classic Harley-Davidsons, Japanese classics, British beauties, and a variety of unusual and unexpected motorcycles. Today we’re taking a closer look at antique motorcycles. The Antique Motorcycle Club of America considers any motorcycle that is 35 years or older an antique, which would include motorcycles built in 1991 or earlier. (Sheesh…I graduated high school in 1991; does that mean I’m an antique too?) For the purposes of this post, however, we’ll look at a selection of motorcycles built between 1904 and 1971 that will cross the block at the Indy auction. (We highlighted some antiques in our earlier posts, including a 1936 New Imperial Model 30, a 1937 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead, and a 1964 Honda Dream 305, among others.) 1904 Indian Single Camel Back Racer 1904 Indian Single Camel Back Racer (Lot T116) (Lot T116): Built three years after the Indian Moto(r)cycle Company was founded (which was called Hendee Manufacturing Company until 1923), this 1904 Indian Single Camel Back Racer represents one of the earliest purpose-built American racing motorcycles. Powered by a 213cc F-head single-cylinder engine that made 1.5-2 hp, it featured a distinctive “camelback” fuel tank mounted over the rear fender, a hallmark of early Indian design. Lightweight and mechanically simple, it was built for competition on dirt tracks and board tracks of the era. Despite modest power, its speed and agility helped establish Indian’s racing reputation. 1919 Henderson Four 1919 Henderson Four (Lot S60) (Lot S60): Built from 1912-1931, the Henderson Four was a landmark American inline-Four, known for smooth power and long-distance capability. Positioned alongside the luxury-focused Pierce Four, the performance-oriented Ace Four, and the later refined Indian Four, the Henderson struck a balance of reliability, speed, and accessibility. Its longitudinal crankshaft and advanced engineering helped define the American 4-cylinder tradition, influencing both Ace and Indian designs. Widely used for touring and endurance riding, the 1919 Henderson Four… [TheTopNews] Read More.
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