Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Vintage Royal Enfield => Topic started by: chiller184 on December 03, 2009, 04:03:48 am

Title: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on December 03, 2009, 04:03:48 am
Hi,

I wish to buy a running Enfield Chief, would prefer a former police bike but I am open to any offers.

I want to ship a Chief to Australia.

If you have a Chief you are thinking of selling or know someone who has one for sale please contact me.

Regards Charles
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on December 03, 2009, 05:34:10 am
Hi Blltdr,

Thanks, I have seen that one. 

Not what I am after and not worth the asking in my opinion, 10k plus shipping.

Cheers Charles
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: RGT on December 03, 2009, 02:41:53 pm
email me at trudeau@ttlc.net, my dad lives just outside Sydney and has a poker buddy with a basket case mid 50's(I think) Indian that he was trying to get my dad to buy, I have thought of it but not wanted to deal with the shipping...
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: rotorwrench on December 03, 2009, 06:53:29 pm
The Chief models were only really made for a period of about two years from late 1958 through late 1960. Some weren't sold till as late as 1962. I've seen several for auction on the old E-pay in the last year or so. If it has all the sheet metal and is as much as 90% complete you should expect to pay around $5000 US dollars give or take a bit. More if it is in running condition and even more if it is 100% complete. I don't know what it will cost to ship to you from the US but the paperwork will have to be in order too.

It's not hard to find a frame and a motor for one of the old RE Indians but the mud guards, tank, head lamp, necelle and a few of the other hard to find Chief only items will cost you a fortune to buy separately. The 16 inch rims alone will a bear to find in good condition.
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on December 03, 2009, 10:02:49 pm
Hi rotorwrench,

Thanks for the reply. I have been looking for an Indian Chief for some time now, slowly broadening my search and hence my posting here.  I have seen a number of the bikes on epay over the last 6 months and I am fully aware of the vagueries of the market.  Some bikes were Trailblazers with Chief tinware, some too modified for me.  I have someone who can transport a bike for me at a reasonable cost.  I am patient in my search, something will come my way. 

Cheers Charles

Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: ERC on December 03, 2009, 10:40:23 pm
To bad you missed it got it out of N.Y. a couple of weeks ago.  ERC
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: ERC on December 04, 2009, 12:48:41 am
I just put it in members rides, you can see what you missed.   ;D  ERC
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on December 04, 2009, 02:48:26 am
Yep saw that one ERC, 1956 Trailblazer frame with an engine from a 1960 Chief advertised as a 1959 Chief, not for me so I didn't miss out on anything thanks.

Cheers Charles
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: ERC on December 04, 2009, 11:47:36 pm
I can see your going concours.   ERC
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on December 05, 2009, 09:42:57 pm
Hi ERC,

It is not so much going concourse but more the difficulties with importation.  If everything is not above board then it makes it more difficult to get things passed the bureaucracy.  I contacted the seller of your bike and he said he had paperwork for a 1959 Chief and yet when I checked the numbers they did not match the information he gave.  If the bike was for sale in Oz then I would have given the bike very serious consideration as it does look good.  Clearly you love it, and I hope you get lots of enjoyment from riding it.  Like I said in my opening post I am after a running Chief, does not have to be concourse, although matching numbers would be something I prefer.

RGT I emailed you but have not had a reply, did you get my email?

Cheers Charles
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: ERC on December 05, 2009, 11:57:55 pm
Hi Chiller. It's interesting the registration he gave me with it is for a 1957, I won't have any trouble registering it here, but I can see your problem with it.  ERC
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on December 06, 2009, 10:31:38 pm
Perhaps he changed his tune after I told him his bike was a '57 not a '59.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Royal-Enfield-1959-Indian-Chief-692-cc_W0QQitemZ170394769761QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item27ac51d961#v4-34

Cheers Charles
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: ERC on December 06, 2009, 11:02:58 pm
Hi Chiller, Actually he never put it into his name the registration is still in a womans name from 2001. I'll probably go with the engine # to title it. You said the frame was 1956 trailblazer. Do you have frame #s for the Indian bikes, the only thing I have are the engine #s to date them.  ERC
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on December 06, 2009, 11:37:20 pm
My apologies ERC, I meant 1957 Trailblazer frame, I have an email at home from RECOA - the official dating org for Enfields.  I will send it to you later today.

In the mean time I am still looking for an Enfield Chief  ;)

Cheers Charles
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: ERC on December 07, 2009, 01:41:23 am
Thanks I'll look foward to getting it. You can send it right to my email address it's in my profile. If something comes up I'll surely let you know. I didn't know they would give out the info without sending them  a pencil rubbing of the numbers.   ERC
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on December 07, 2009, 03:56:19 am
You have to become a member.

In the mean time I am still looking for an Enfield Chief  :)

Cheers Charles

Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: rotorwrench on December 07, 2009, 06:42:37 pm
Frame numbers are the hardest numbers to find info on for the Reddich REs & Indian Sales Corp models. The REOC/UK isn't going to give them out without a club membership or a small fee. They have the best list that exists.

I've been watching Chief and Trailblazer models for a long time to get an idea of the number ranges at least. All the 57 Indians were in the 4000 to early 5000 range. The 58 models were in the 5000 to 6000 range till the Chiefs came out. Some Chiefs I've seen were in the high 7000 range but most are in the 8000 to 9000 range through the end of production in late 1960.

I know this isn't a big help but it will get you in the ball park.
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on December 07, 2009, 09:43:45 pm
Hi rotorwrench,

Not sure who your message is addressed to.  I joined REOC some time ago.  But for a rule of thumb I appreciate the info.

Cheers Charles
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: RGT on December 09, 2009, 03:58:11 pm
Sorry to take so long in responding, I was away from civilization for a few days. The bike is a Scout and it is not a basket case but does have some parts removed, might be worth getting in touch with my dad anyways, I sent you an email and copied him.
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on December 09, 2009, 08:30:04 pm
G'day RGT,

Thanks very much for getting back to me.  I have emailed your dad, we will see what happens.

I am still on the hunt for an Enfield Indian Chief if anyone else knows of one for sale.

Cheers Charles
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: ERC on December 16, 2009, 11:00:58 pm
Chiller, A person on this site saw the picture of mine and contacted me through the members rides. His handle on this site is jaminjim. He owns a Chief, he doesn't show his email but I'm pretty sure you can get in touch with him through this site. Never know he may want to sell.  ERC
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on December 28, 2009, 11:21:41 pm
Seasons greetings everyone.

Just letting you know I am still in the market.

Cheers Charles
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: chiller184 on February 10, 2010, 11:59:15 pm
Still looking folks.

Regards Charles
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: The Garbone on February 11, 2010, 01:27:06 pm
Have you seen this link in another thread... You might want to call this guy..


http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/1595618358.html
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: GeorgeE on February 11, 2010, 01:34:43 pm
Gary
I think he posted on Blasco's blog that he had found a bike.

http://www.royalenfields.com/search?updated-max=2010-02-03T07%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=2
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: The Garbone on February 11, 2010, 02:06:04 pm
Cool,, I need to bookmark that blog... good stuff..
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: ERC on February 11, 2010, 11:32:00 pm
To the best of my knowledge the 59-60 Chiefs didn't use the toolboxes pictured on that bike because the batteries were to big. Even so a beautiful bike.  ERC
Title: Re: Wanted Enfield Chief
Post by: RE_Chief on December 07, 2013, 10:18:06 am
It is chiller184 here.

After a complicated story and a long search I have finally found a 1960 Chief in Hartford. the motorcycle is now on its way to Australia.

For some good view of an Interceptor riding check this out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKuv4G0bs_k

Cheers Charles