We are going to attempt to bring Bandit’s Cantina members more classics coupled with historic info. We need to be culturally balanced between wild shit, boobs, and something from the other side of the tracks; namely, historic motorcycles.
We are very fortunate to bring you a Steve McQueen-owned 1935 Indian Chief from the La Quay Motorsports Collection hidden in a small town on the Gulf of Mexico. Tim and Linda La Quay are the proprietors, and Tim grew up working for his dad in a gas station on the edge of this dusty town. He fell in love with two things as a young man. Both changed his life forever for the better. He fell in love with Linda, and fell in love with cars and bikes.
His love for Linda led to a massively successful profession on the gulf, which allowed him the funds to collect his second love, a vast assortment of muscle cars and Harleys. Just recently, Tim hooked up with a longtime friend of mine, Don Whalen, who is helping him expand and dial in his motorcycle collection. Maybe someday, this magnificent collection will be open to the public. So, we bring you this fine example of Indian History with bits from Steve McQueen.
I reached into the Indian Motorcycle Buyer’s Guide, by Jerry Hatfield, for info about the 1935 model Chief. It was obviously one of the best looking stock Indians ever produced prior to the full-valance fender models. For 1935, the Chiefs and Scouts sported the same fender configurations with slightly increased valance. New chainguards were featured. All 1935 models were available with any of three gas and oil tank trim packages. Rebound springs were added to the Standard Scout and Chief girder front ends.
The Chief was available sporting an optional “Y” motor with larger cylinder cooling fins and aluminum heads. Another option was a 4-speed transmission, and standard upgrades included larger and longer valve guides, larger and heavier valve springs, new valve dust covers, new roller bearings retainers and a new muffler added to the exclusive Chief improvements.
Jerry Hatfield pointed out the considerable Indian styling edge over Harleys. “A 1935 Chief’s classic lines appear all the better when parked next to a 1935 Harley. Indians had teardrop-shaped tanks: Harleys had sort of a rounded-off trapezoid, or hump-back tanks. Just to make it worse, Harley-Davidson put little screws down the middle of the tank. The Indian fenders and chainguard also had a styling flair not found in the Harleys. Beginning in 1935, Indian offered three optional paint schemes for the tanks. Indian not only offered more choices of standard colors than Harley, but for $5 extra would supply any color available from DuPont.
“At the time, Indian offered a 4-speed transmission and Harley didn’t. Indian already installed dry-sump oil systems over the total loss Harley. Indian also offered reversible throttles, gear shifts, and clutches, Harley didn’t. Indian offered optional magneto ignitions, not available on Harleys. At the time, Indian built a light-weight twin, but not Harley, and Indian offered the 4-cylinder model and Harley did not. Hell, Indian kicked ass on the race circuits and Harley held only one side-valve record. How times changed from one year to the next.”
If you ever run across one of Jerry’s books, you’ll get a kick out of a page and a half devoted to starting and riding a Chief.
On Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen left an indelible imprint as one of Hollywood’s sexiest leading men. His balance of masculinity and sensitivity made him both a man’s man and a ladies’ man all at once. His revered roles in films such as Bullitt, The Great Escape, The Thomas Crown Affair and, Papillion have been often imitated but never repeated. An actor, race-car driver, and father, McQueen was the epitome of the American dream, rising from hardscrabble circumstances to become one of the most famous movie stars in the world.
–from SteveMcQueen.com
Birth name Steve Terrence McQueen
Born March 24, 1930
Beech Grove, Indiana, USA
Died November 7, 1980 (aged 50)
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Spouses Neile Adams (1956-1972)
Ali MacGraw (1973-1978)
Barbara Minty (1980-1980)
Children Terry McQueen (1959-1998)
Chad McQueen (b.1960)
1934-1939 Indian Chief Spec Chart
Engine: Side-valve 42 degree V-Twin
Bore and stroke: 3 ¼ by 4 7/16-inch
Displacement: 73.62 cubic inches
Brake Horsepower (BHP): 40 (est.)
Lubrication: Dry Sump
Ignition: Standard battery/distributor, optional mag
Transmission: Standard, 3-speed, optional 4-speed or reverse, hand actuated, sliding gear
Clutch: wet
Primary drive: endless four-row chain, oil bathed, in cast aluminum oil bath case
Wheelbase 61.5 inches
Wheels and tires: 18-inch drop-center rims, 4.00 tires
Suspension: Rear, none, front, leaf spring forks
Weight: 1935-’37 480-482 pounds dry
Seat height: Solo, 29 inches, buddy 31.5 inches
MPG: 35-45
Top speed: Stock, 85 mph, polished ports and precision ignition timing, 95 mph, with special cams, 100-115 mph
