Your starter for $100k
The world’s first electric start motorcycle is up for sale at the world’s biggest auction
In the early years of motorcycling, American bikes were among the most advanced in the world, as this 1914 Indian Hendee Special proves. Well over 100 years ago, here was a bike that sported a superbly-engineered 1000cc V-twin engine (albeit only putting out 7bhp) mated to a two speed gearbox and – its crowning glory – the first electric starter to be fitted to a motorcycle. Sadly, the electric start, doubtless inspired by the first electric start car, a 1913 Cadillac, wasn’t an unqualified success and ended up costing Indian a fortune. Though it worked well enough, battery technology of the day restricted the performance of the starter motor and a number of expensive factory recalls were required. The bikes came back for magneto ignition, a kick starter and eventually the removal of the electric starter motor. That must have taken some explaining. Indian ended production of the ‘electric’ model after around 50 machines were built and the recall was rumoured to cost an eye-watering $100,000.
The model is named after George M Hendee, the founder of Indian, which was America’s first motorcycle manufacturer. By 1913, production was running at 32,000 machines a year and Hendee and business partner Oscar Hedstrom came up with a new, improved range for 1914. The Hendee Special was right at the top.
In total, only around 200 Hendee Specials were built in 1914 and only a handful survive. Even fewer machines with the full original equipment, like this one, remain in existence, making this an extremely rare find. Owned by the vendor since 1986, it’s estimated to make $100,000-125,000. The Indian is for sale at the end of January in Las Vegas at the giant Mecum auction, which is a wonder in itself. The sale looks set to be the biggest classic bike auction in the world with a staggering 1620 lots going past the block during six selling days.