Drivetrain
Chassis
Body
Concours Quality 1939 Indian Four Model 439 World Fair Colors
This absolutely spectacular 1939 Indian Model 439 is restored in World's Fair colors, and it's considered by many to be the best of all the Indian fours. While Indian had been building and improving its four-cylinder models since acquiring the Ace name, rights and tooling in 1927, it made considerable changes between 1936-38. Indian chose a radical redesign of the motor for 1936, which became known as the “upside-down fours” with exhaust-over-inlet cylinder heads. While these engines produced more power, they proved unpopular with riders as the exhaust ran close to the rider's leg, which became uncomfortable in hot climates. After two years of production, the engine was totally redesigned all over again in 1938, this time with the usual inlet-over-exhaust configuration, albeit with many improvements, including for the first time a full enclosure of the valve gear, full lubrication of the valves and the cylinders cast in pairs. The resulting engine of the Model 438 was a far more attractive and more integrated design, with horizontal finning from the top of the valve enclosure right down to the radial finning on the crankcase sump.
Some consider the 1938-1942 Indian four engines to be among the most attractive motorcycle engines ever built. When combined with the spectacular styling of the late 1930s Indian range with sweeping, elegant fenders, teardrop tanks and perfect paint schemes, you have one of the most spectacular and beautiful motorcycles ever built in the 1938-39 Indians. Some consider the 1939 Indian 439 in a World's Fair paint scheme—with its metallic silver or metallic blue—to be simply the finest expression of motorcycle art produced before World War II. These are the last of the rigid-frame Indian Fours, were 50 pounds lighter than the plunger-frame models that followed (the 439 weighed 480 pounds), and still came with sporting pretensions and an excellent new motor.
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1939 Indian
Four Model 439
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Description
This absolutely spectacular 1939 Indian Model 439 is restored in World's Fair colors, and it's considered by many to be the best of all the Indian fours. While Indian had been building and improving its four-cylinder models since acquiring the Ace name, rights and tooling in 1927, it made considerable changes between 1936-38. Indian chose a radical redesign of the motor for 1936, which became known as the “upside-down fours” with exhaust-over-inlet cylinder heads. While these engines produced more power, they proved unpopular with riders as the exhaust ran close to the rider's leg, which became uncomfortable in hot climates. After two years of production, the engine was totally redesigned all over again in 1938, this time with the usual inlet-over-exhaust configuration, albeit with many improvements, including for the first time a full enclosure of the valve gear, full lubrication of the valves and the cylinders cast in pairs. The resulting engine of the Model 438 was a far more attractive and more integrated design, with horizontal finning from the top of the valve enclosure right down to the radial finning on the crankcase sump.
Some consider the 1938-1942 Indian four engines to be among the most attractive motorcycle engines ever built. When combined with the spectacular styling of the late 1930s Indian range with sweeping, elegant fenders, teardrop tanks and perfect paint schemes, you have one of the most spectacular and beautiful motorcycles ever built in the 1938-39 Indians. Some consider the 1939 Indian 439 in a World's Fair paint scheme—with its metallic silver or metallic blue—to be simply the finest expression of motorcycle art produced before World War II. These are the last of the rigid-frame Indian Fours, were 50 pounds lighter than the plunger-frame models that followed (the 439 weighed 480 pounds), and still came with sporting pretensions and an excellent new motor.
Specs
- Year
- 1939
- Make
- Indian
- Auto Model Name
- Four Model 439
- Miles
- 22,588
- Vin
- DCI411B
- Stock
- JB411B
Basic
- Engine Size
- 1265cc
- Engine Type
- Gasoline
- Transmission Type
- Manual
Engine
- Body Or Basic Color
- Silver/Black
Body
- Interior Or Basic Color
- Black
Interior
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