Royal Enfield is the oldest motorcycle model in the world that is still in production. The company started in Redditch, Worcestershire and was dissolved in'71, but production in India goes-on to this day. The'63 Royal Enfield Indian Motorcycle was the last to apply the "Indian" name attached to Royal Enfield and sold in America...
The Royal Enfield Group was most famous for the production of motorcycles; nonetheless they also made numerous other things like rifles, lawnmowers, and bicycles. Their logo was a image of this cannon with a motto that said 'made like a gun, goes like a bullet."
The Enfield of India started their production of Bullet motorcycles by'55, and they got their license from a UK company. By'62, they started making their own bikes. Even when the Royal Enfield gave up in'71, the Chennai-based Indian company continued their production and purchased rights to the name "Royal Enfield" in'95. The business is still in production now.
1950 was a vital year for the Indian Motorcycle Company in America. A company called Brockhouse Corporation had been helping finance the faltering Indian company, and bought it outright in'50. Some unfortunate management decisions led to Indian being split into two halves: one for sales, and the other for manufacturing.
This manufacturing half could not meet the retooling expenses that were required for the overhead valve engine and so it closed in'53. Some Indian purists thought that it was the death of "real" Indian motorcycles. But the sales half was still functioning normally.
The Brockhouse Corporation had the rights to the name and after the Indian manufacturing failed, they began importing Enfields and marketed them as Indian from'55 to'70. This was an example of "badge engineering" but it was not successful. Even though the dealers still went on with the matchless Indian name after'59, the Indian name was removed from the motorcycles.
Disputes as to who will earn the brand name became a big issue during that time of Indian Motorcycle history. The Enfield Chief was still produced in'60 - a rebadged Enfield 700 cc twin fitted with the fender guards, saddlebags and other Indian paraphernalia.
Anyhow, Associated Motorcycles of Britain bought the Indian name in'60. In'63, the Berliner Motor Corporation overpowered the U.S distributorship of Associated Motorcycles and the Indian name was completely removed for good. These details of the deal became life-like in form of trademark and branding struggles till'99.
Floyd Clymer, who was a racer, writer, motorcycle dealer, and a magazine publisher, obtained the sales sector of the Indian company in the mid 60s. He spent five or more years of his life trying to retrieve the Indian brand name by fitting Indian nameplates to Italian Velocette-based bikes, and even having a prototype built based on the original Indian V-twin design. Even though it was well received, it was the only prototype ever made. - 30329
The Royal Enfield Group was most famous for the production of motorcycles; nonetheless they also made numerous other things like rifles, lawnmowers, and bicycles. Their logo was a image of this cannon with a motto that said 'made like a gun, goes like a bullet."
The Enfield of India started their production of Bullet motorcycles by'55, and they got their license from a UK company. By'62, they started making their own bikes. Even when the Royal Enfield gave up in'71, the Chennai-based Indian company continued their production and purchased rights to the name "Royal Enfield" in'95. The business is still in production now.
1950 was a vital year for the Indian Motorcycle Company in America. A company called Brockhouse Corporation had been helping finance the faltering Indian company, and bought it outright in'50. Some unfortunate management decisions led to Indian being split into two halves: one for sales, and the other for manufacturing.
This manufacturing half could not meet the retooling expenses that were required for the overhead valve engine and so it closed in'53. Some Indian purists thought that it was the death of "real" Indian motorcycles. But the sales half was still functioning normally.
The Brockhouse Corporation had the rights to the name and after the Indian manufacturing failed, they began importing Enfields and marketed them as Indian from'55 to'70. This was an example of "badge engineering" but it was not successful. Even though the dealers still went on with the matchless Indian name after'59, the Indian name was removed from the motorcycles.
Disputes as to who will earn the brand name became a big issue during that time of Indian Motorcycle history. The Enfield Chief was still produced in'60 - a rebadged Enfield 700 cc twin fitted with the fender guards, saddlebags and other Indian paraphernalia.
Anyhow, Associated Motorcycles of Britain bought the Indian name in'60. In'63, the Berliner Motor Corporation overpowered the U.S distributorship of Associated Motorcycles and the Indian name was completely removed for good. These details of the deal became life-like in form of trademark and branding struggles till'99.
Floyd Clymer, who was a racer, writer, motorcycle dealer, and a magazine publisher, obtained the sales sector of the Indian company in the mid 60s. He spent five or more years of his life trying to retrieve the Indian brand name by fitting Indian nameplates to Italian Velocette-based bikes, and even having a prototype built based on the original Indian V-twin design. Even though it was well received, it was the only prototype ever made. - 30329
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The Indian scout motorcycle is a timeless icon in riding history. To read more about Indian motorcycle handlebars follow the links.
