9 Vintage Indian V-Twin Motorcycles Collectors Chase at Auction
Indian motorcycles are one of the most emotive brands in American motorcycling. Long before the modern cruiser era began, it had been creating some of the most competitive and beautiful machines to roll out of a factory, with its V-twins helping it to establish a reputation for both craftsmanship and performance. Today, the best examples of its bikes rarely sit in garages for long, and they’re quickly snapped up at auction.
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Indian Scout (1920–1927) — $20,000–$35,000
The original Indian Scout was a lightweight 606 cc bike that was just as comfortable on the road as it was on grass or dirt. Its low center of gravity gave it responsive handling, and it quickly became a favorite around the world — including as far afield as New Zealand, where rider Burt Munro took a highly modified Indian Scout to a land speed record in 1967, with the movie The World’s Fastest Indian chronicling the journey.
It’s not a hugely common feature on auction blocks, given that the bike is approaching — and some models have exceeded — 100 years old. That said, prices circle the $30,000 mark when they do cross the blocks, like this 1925 Scout that sold for $31,900 in 2020 or this one currently for sale in the Netherlands for the equivalent of $34,696 while Munro’s Scout, known as the Munro Special, is on display at the E. Hayes & Sons hardware store in his native Invercargill.
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Indian 841 (1941–1943) — $25,000–$35,000
Built during the Second World War for the U.S. Army, the 841 had a 741 cc engine and drew inspiration from the German BMW R71. It was originally intended for use in the desert but, by the time 1,056 bikes had been created, the North African campaign had ended and the bikes were no longer needed.
With the project canceled and no need for the bike, the 841s were surplus to requirements and were sold out of the Springfield factory for $500 (the equivalent of $9,685 today). Many riders rode them as-is, though the bike’s military prototype nature means it produces a relatively meager 25 hp for its 528 lb wet weight. Still, prices have risen considerably since 1943, with bikes sitting in the $25,000–$35,000 range.
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Indian Chief (1922–1953) — $25,000–$45,000
Originally introduced in 1922 and running until 1953 in its first production run, the Indian Chief is one of the most important motorcycles in American motorcycle history. The bike, which was powered by a 1,200 cc engine for most of its life before being upgraded to a 1,300 cc engine for the last three years of its run, quickly became the flagship of the marque thanks to its distinctive styling, reliability, and surprising toughness.
The bike tends to fetch around $45,000 on the higher end at auction, like this 1951 Chief that sold for $41,800 in January 2026. However, that’s far from the highest price achieved. A meticulously-restored 1935 example sold for an astonishing $187,000 at auction in January 2026, as good bikes become increasingly rare.
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Indian Sport Scout (1934–1942) — $25,000–$45,000
Introduced in 1934, the Sport Scout was the performance version of the regular Scout. With a 750 cc engine providing around 25 hp compared to the regular Scout’s 606 cc engine and 11 hp, the Sport Scout also had a lighter frame, lower seat, and a shorter wheelbase to really emphasize the sporting nature of the bike. This earned them a reputation on flat-track circuits, helping to cement Indian in the American motorcycle world.
Today, Sport Scouts remain a popular choice among riders thanks to that competition pedigree. Better-maintained versions achieve higher prices, while Steve McQueen’s 1934 Indian Sport Scout sold for around $80,000 in 2015 (though it had sold for $177,500 in 2006).
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Indian Powerplus (1916–1924) — $25,000–$45,000
Featuring a 998 cc engine and producing around 17 hp, the Indian Powerplus was an incredibly powerful bike for the time. It represented a move forward for the brand, as it moved from an inlet-over-exhaust F-head layout to a more efficient side-valve one. This helped to improve the bike’s reliability, durability, and power, with the bike topping 60 MPH and being one of the fastest of its day.
Indian factory rider and future Motorcycle Hall of Famer Gene “Alabama Flash” Walker took the bike to a new motorcycle world speed record on Daytona Beach on April 14, 1920, crossing the line at 103.56 MPH.
The bike today sells for between $25,000–$45,000, with particularly well-maintained or restored examples achieving the top end, like this 1917 model that sold for $46,916 in 2022.
4
Indian Scout 101 (1928–1931) — $30,000–$50,000
Coming the year after the first run of Indian Scouts, the Scout 101 was the prototypical Indian. With its low seat, long wheelbase, and improved steering compared to the original Scout, the 101 was an upgrade in most ways. It was also available with either the original 606 cc engine or an upgraded 740 cc engine making roughly 18 HP, which was slotted into its redesigned frame and gave it both power and agility.
Values are around $30,000 to $50,000 depending on condition, though considerably more isn’t unheard of, as a refurbished 1928 model sold for $72,000 in 2023.
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Indian Big Chief (1923–1928) — $35,000–$55,000
The 1923–1928 Indian Big Chief lived up to its name by featuring a 1,210 cc flathead V-twin engine making 24 hp. Unlike other Indians of the time, the Big Chief was made for covering distance rather than sport, though the large engine did provide the smooth power and durability that the Chief line of bikes would later become associated with. It was this larger engine that made the Big Chief arguably more desirable than the regular Scout, particularly as the Big Chief (and the lesser-powered Chief) were the flagship bikes at the time, marking the pinnacle of American motorcycling.
Big Chiefs are a rare find today, which is reflected in the values. Matching numbers bikes are particularly sought-after. However, even non-running project bikes can fetch $35,000+ at auction, like this weathered bike that sold for $35,800 in 2023.
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Indian Board Track Racer / Factory Racer (1910s) — $50,000–$70,000+
The Indian Board Track Racer couldn’t be further from the cruisers more commonly associated with the brand today. Designed purely for the wooden tracks of the 1910s, the bike has a rigid frame, direct-drive transmission (i.e. no clutch), and no brakes — meaning they weren’t, and still aren’t, for the faint-hearted. These extreme bikes had turn-down handlebars to help the rider get into a more aerodynamic shape, along with a 500 cc engine that could push riders beyond 90 MPH.
The popularity of the sport the bikes were made for disappeared almost overnight, though, when rider Eddie Hasha crashed on one of the dangerous wooden circuits. The crash took the lives of four spectators, along with Hasha and another competitor, though Indian reportedly continued to make the bike until around the mid-1920s.
The bike remains an incredibly rare piece of machinery, due in part to the fact that these bikes were used for competition. A Board Track Racer owned by Steve McQueen sold for $43,152 in 2013, while the bike more commonly sells for around $50,000. That said, one of a purported four eight-valve racers still in existence sold for a whopping $285,000 in 2023.
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Indian Altoona OHV Racer (1926) — $75,000–$125,000+
A factory racer, the Altoona OHV Racer had a 998 cc engine that ran on alcohol and produced around 60 HP. While it was named after the Altoona Speedway in Tipton, Pennsylvania (a 1.25-mile board track racing circuit), it actually competed on (and was very successful in) hill climbs as well. This racing nature means that the bike was produced in very limited numbers, and good examples are incredibly rare.
A 1926 model was sold for $110,000 at auction in January 2026. However, an unrestored, original Altoona Hillclimber went for an astonishing $247,500 at auction in 2015.
Sources: Motorcycle.com, WebBikeWorld, Museum of American Speed
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