1940
Indian Chief
Colours used
in this example.
Oxblood and Deep maroon set the main colour direction. Softer background tones keep the motorcycle in focus.
Suggested pencil shades, not exact factory paint matches. Test colours on your paper before building richer layers.
Layer the darker shade around curves.
Use light pressure to preserve highlights.
Leave narrow paper highlights.
Retain lighter edges for definition.
Keep these colours softer than the motorcycle.
Look a little closer.
Explore the details from different angles.
1944 Chief comparison
1944 Indian Chief. Later comparison showing the skirted mudguards introduced in 1940; finish and equipment may differ.
Photo: Qflieger · Source · CC BY-SA 3.01947 Chief comparison
1947 Indian Chief Blackhawk. Compare the deep front mudguard and tank shape with the earlier Chief.
Photo: Bob P. B. · Source · CC BY 2.01948 Chief comparison
1948 Indian Chief. The two-tone finish and accessories shown are not confirmation of 1940 factory options.
Photo: Spanish Coches · Source · CC BY 2.01948 touring equipment
1948 Chief with screen and touring accessories. A later period comparison.
Photo: Rikita · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0Chief engine and tank detail
Detail view from the 1944 Chief photograph. Compare the V-twin and tank forms.
Photo: Qflieger · Source · CC BY-SA 3.01940 Chief colour options
The specialist colour register records six standard bodywork finishes for 1940. Black frames accompanied the regular finishes, although special orders and surviving motorcycles can differ.
- BlackBodywork option
- Indian RedBodywork option
- Fallon BrownBodywork option
- Seafoam BlueBodywork option
- Kashan GreenBodywork option
- Jade GreenBodywork option
Screen swatches are a colouring guide rather than exact paint matches.
Six colours are recorded by specialist research citing period paint literature. Sales literature was narrower. Gallery bikes are later years and do not verify exact 1940 colour names or two-tone combinations.
In the photographs
The gallery contains later Chiefs: dark blue in the 1944 view, lighter blue in the 1947 view, navy with cream panels on one 1948 bike and red on another. These photographs do not establish 1940 finishes. Their exact paint names and restoration histories are unverified; the two-tone navy and cream scheme should not be treated as a documented 1940 option.
- Dark blue
- Light blue
- Navy
- Cream
- Red
Visual colour guide only. These are not additional factory paint options.
In the coloured example
The red motorcycle with a cream tank panel and brown saddle is a creative scheme. Red is a recorded 1940 colour, but this cream-panel arrangement and the red frame have not been verified as the standard 1940 finish.
Make the details count.
Follow the long mudguard curves with light red strokes.
Reserve a pale edge around the ivory tank inset.
Use short brown strokes to suggest saddle grain.
Follow your curiosity.
Model history and further reading.