Jeff first learned of the Chief on the internet, and bought it in October, 1998, from Jeff Grigsby's Indian Motor Works in Bayfield,Colorado. Shortly thereafter, while at a local motorcycle parts store, Jeff was introduced to Fred Sperry, who "...used to own an Indian".

Fred said "Yeah, I had a beat up sidecar rig. I sold it to a guy inColorado."Jeff replied "I bought mine from a guy in Colorado."Fred: "It isn't yellow, is it?"Jeff: "No, it's Indian red, serial C-2013."Fred: "Bingo."

Fred sold the motorcycle in 1989 to Bob Borgo of Boulder, Colorado. Jeff Grigsby had helped Bob locate the bike, and a few years later  helped him restore it.  Bob often rode the Chief on sales calls around town. In 1997 Borgo sold the Chief to Grigsby.

Fred Sperry bought the Chief in 1987 from Ed Maydock in Barkhamstead, Connecticut. Fred was driving by and saw the sidecar rig sitting on Ed's front porch. On Fred's third visit, Ed asked his wife what to do.  She told him to "...sell it this minute. It's dripping oil all over my porch." Minutes later, in the middle of a snowstorm, it was loaded into Fred's pickup.

At the time, Fred lived in rural Granby and had many motorcycles in his barns and garages. Shortly after buying the Chief, Fred and his wife divorced. Fred relocated to Hartford, and did not have room for all the motorcycles.  Fred preferred Harleys, so they remained in his garage. The Chief and sidecar were parked in Fred's front yard and spent 18 months chained to a tree. Then Grigsby called Sperry.

Ed Maydock owned the Chief from 1970 to 1987.  He got the bike from"Sidecar Harry" (who's real name is now forgotten).  Harry lived in the vicinity of New Haven, Connecticut. Ed reports that Harry owned the motorcycle from 1959 to 1970, rode it daily, and was known to sleep in the sidecar on occasion. This very much distressed the NHPD, since themotorcycle was painted black and white and had "MPD 37" in gold letterson the sidecar. Ed painted everything yellow in 1971.

The City of Meriden purchased the motorcycle and sidecar in 1950 or1951, probably from Leon Gretzky, the Indian dealer in Hartford at the time. Large police departments could purchase directly from Indian in Springfield, Massachusetts. Smaller departments bought directly from dealers who then installed the police accessories. The police always painted the motorcycles themselves, often right over the original paint. Ed Maydock confirms this as he found Indian red underneath the black in 1970.

Dick McBride, a volunteer with the Meriden Historical Society, remembers the motorcycle well. After the war, as Americans began to prosper and buy automobiles, downtown Meriden experienced parking and traffic congestion. They bought this sidecar outfit and possibly one other fortraffic duty. A uniformed police officer would drive the motorcycle while a "meter maid" in the sidecar marked car tires with chalk. Dick McBride also recalls that MPD motorcycles participated in many parades.

According to published Indian literature, C-2013 is a 1951 Chief. However, an internal document dated September, 1950, signed by Earl Robbins, Service Manager, indicates that "Production of the 350 [1950] Chief ceased with the completion of 60 machines for the New York Police. The last 350 model engine number was C-2500 and the 351 willstart with C-4001." Indian was essentially bankrupt in 1950. Weakened by the war, the company made a futile effort to sell light-weight motorcycles in 1949. They did not mass produce chiefs that year. The light-weights failed dismally, sealing Indians fate.  In 1950 they hurriedly reversed their strategy and produced only chiefs. The new chief had "Aerodraulic" forks, but, in most ways, was still a pre-warmachine. To hide their condition from dealers and creditors by making it look like they were producing more machines, Indian changed their numbering scheme in 1950 and skipped numbers on the production line. It  is unlikely that 1000 machines were produced in 1950. During 1953 Indian ceased manufacturing motorcycles.

The Alperins exhibited the Chief often during 1999. It was appreciatedby judges and spectators alike. It won "Best of Show" and "People'sChoice" at the Connecticut Super Ride, "Best of Show - Motorcycle" atthe Bennington Antique Automobile and Motorcycle Meet, "Best of Show -Motorcycle" at the 17th annual Lime Rock Raceway Vintage festival, and"People's Choice" at the Brooklyn Antique and Custom Motorcycle Meet.

In 1999, the Alperins restored a siren to the motorcycle. Next year they plan further restoration and research of the motorcycle to bring it up to Antique Motorcycle Club of America standards.

Any information about or pictures of Indian police motorcycles would begreatly appreciated. Please contact jeff@alperin.com.