Indian 1936 Model TC Traffic Car 1206 cc 2 cyl sv 3502

Indian 1936 Model TC Traffic Car 1206 cc V-twin frame # 3361273 engine # CCF 1273 B

Next to the motorcycles with commercial side cars Indian marketed some vehicles with two rear wheels on a differential-type axle. The first of this was the Dispatch Tow. It was first brought out in 1931 as a vehicle specially designed for use by automobile dealers, fitted with a 101 Scout engine. At that time cars needed more frequent garage maintenance ( lubrication and running adjustments) and two men were usually needed to pick up a car at a customer’s home. The Dispatch-Tow was equipped with a tow bar. After arriving at the customer’s home the mechanic would connect the three-wheeler to the rear of the car and tow it back to the garage and vice versa when the car was ready. It was quite a successful design and in its first year on the market nearly 400 were sold. Between 1932 and 1935 the model was discontinued and it came back with a Sport Scout engine in 1935. The engine fitted had a lower compression and lower gear ratios. Some years after the introduction of the Dispatch Tow another light commercial vehicle saw the light of day, the Traffic Car. The company introduced it as ” the most efficient, attractive, and economical light commercial delivery unit ever produced.” And indeed, the trikes had a number of obvious advantages for light deliveries. They were economical, easy to operate, gave less garaging and parking problems and were handy in busy city traffic. On top of all this was the advertising value they possessed. Traffic cars were based on the Chief model and had a Chief front end, petrol tank and engine. There were three forward gears on board and a reverse gear.

Very few Traffic cars have survived, and this one is a very special specimen. It was discovered on a vineyard in California a number of years ago, where it had been used as a small pickup. The Traffic Car was bought by a Dutch enthusiast, who decided to build a new closed body on the chassis. He wanted to be able to transport a motorcycle (Indian of course! ) so he elongated the chassis and constructed a larger body. Before this venture he had visited several museums to make exact measurements so the new body would be basically correct, apart from the extra length. The project was finished successfully and in 2011 the restorer rode the Traffic Car from The Netherlands to the Isle of Man, to commemorate the first Indian TT victory; first, second and third places for Godfrey, Franklin and Moorehouse respectively! In the back of the Traffic Car travelled his companion, a vintage Indian racing machine…

This rare Indian is in fine condition and comes with 100 mph Indian Corbin speedometer and current Dutch registration. Video: https://youtu.be/JCcehgA_9FY