Check Out Steve McQueen's Iconic Indian Four

Here's a look back at the King Of Cool's pristine Indian Four

When you think of American cruisers, a V-twin is a no-brainer pick for its heart. After all, such engines have been an integral part of the American motorcycle culture for well over a century. What you might not realize, however, is that this prowess came after several experiments. The list is way long to bore all of us, but one example that certainly stands out is when Indian Motorcycle plonked an inline-four engine into one of its cruisers. It was game-changing, fast, and a head-turner, so much so, even superstar Steve McQueen couldn't keep his hands off it.

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Back in the early 1920s, single-cylinder and twin-cylinder engines were all the riot in the two-wheeler world. All bikemakers, including Harley and Indian, focused on these, with little to no attention to other layouts. But in 1928, Indian took the uncommon road to introduce the Four. The cruiser motorcycle employed a 77 cubic-inch (1,260cc) inline-four engine–the first of its kind from a mainstream American bikemaker. The engine wasn't exactly an "innovation" by the bikemaker, and instead, came from their then-subsidiary Ace Motor Corporation. Indian built the Four around the new engine, as a "luxurious cruiser" that promises impressive performance (reports suggest it could propel to nearly 100mph).

Though the then-economy didn't support such motorcycles, the Springfield brand updated the Four multiple times. The first update came in 1929 when the motorcycle gained extra crank bearings and a new double-down tube chassis. Then, in ‘36, Indian engineers redesigned the engine's head to a new "upside-down" layout. The inlet-over-exhaust setup made way for an exhaust-over-inlet configuration to boost performance. Inevitably, this also meant unbearable heat on the rider's leg, which ultimately urged the bikemaker to revert the "upside-down" setup.

Finally, Indian equipped the Four with a plunger suspension outback and swapped the 18-inch wheels with 16-inchers in 1940 and 1941, respectively. This would be the Four's last update. We all know what happened soon after (the second world war), so the bikemaker seized production and focus its resources on army vehicles. Once the dust settled, the Chief-maker restarted production around 1945, but kept a focus on V-twins, never to debut an inline-four motorcycle again.

Engine aside, the Indian Four is lovingly called one of the most gorgeous American motorcycles. Credit goes to its swooping fenders, blacked-out elements, and extensive use of chrome from head to toe, all topped by a scintillating red livery. Of course, the longitudinal inline-four engine (with its super-long exhaust) plays a key role in the svelte aesthetics too, and so does the contrast tan saddle. It's such a charmer, even Indian's modern-day Chieftain and Roadmaster draw inspiration from this icon.

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All the aforementioned factors made the Four a dream bike for many, including one Terrence Stephen McQueen. Before you Google the name, we’re talking about superstar Hollywood actor Steve McQueen. The "King Of Cool" had a particular affection for iconic Indian motorcycles, which led him to add the Four to his private collection.

Yes, you read that right. Steve McQueen acquired a 1940 Indian Four and restored it for his private collection right before he passed away in 1980. The cruiser was then sold at the Steve McQueen Estate Auction at the Imperial Palace in 1984, along with partnering documents that confirm the ownership. Post this, it stayed with the same family for 30 long years, who completed its restoration, only to resell it again in 2013. And in the latest update, McQueen's Indian Four has reportedly sold for $128,000 in an auction conducted by Collecting Cars. Even after all these years, the Four in context is in crystal clean condition, backed by its original 8,988-mile odometer reading.

Aside from the cruiser, McQueen also had plenty of other icons in his collection. While the Triumph TR6 and Husqvarna 400 Cross were the popular ones, the list also had a Metiss Desert Racer (rumored to be his favorite), a 1920 Indian Daytona PowerPlus, and a 1964 Indian Chief. Understandably, all these sold at hard-to-afford prices in auctions, yet we believe the Four will beat them all at some point. Do you agree?

Punya is an avid motorcyclist who's always up for a ride to the canyons or the racetrack. He insists his riding skills are better than his writing skills, even though he's worked with some world-renowned automotive websites.