Post-Sale Update: After 38 bids on eBay, this Indian Stylemaster did not meet reserve at $8,900.
The Indian Stylemaster was a rebadged scooter from the Lowther company of Joliet, Illinois. Lowther made several scooter variants in the late 40s, all designed to be “Park Avenue Scooters with the Main Street price”. As a company, Indian was on the ropes after World War II. In 1949, the company killed off their famous Chief and replaced it with smaller displacement bikes. Lowther came in to produce scooters.
We took a while to feature this Indian Stylemaster as there’s such little information about it – and the seller’s listing does not help. Powered by a 6 horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine, the Stylemaster sold poorly and is almost never seen nowadays. Featuring front and rear fenders, locking igntion, and a dual seat, the Stylemaster (and the partnership with Lowther) was axed after just one year. According to Bonham’s, only approximately 18 Indian scooters are still accounted for today.
This specific Indian Stylemaster has been part of a private collection for 5 years, and is claimed to be museum quality. No idea if that means it’s only cosmetically perfect, or if it’s capable of running, as well. The seller claims that this is only one of two known Stylemasters in the United States, but we’re having trouble verifying that notion. Whether or not it’s 1 of 2, it’s still definitely a rare scoot.
Find this Indian Stylemaster for sale here on eBay with bidding at $6,050 and the reserve not yet met in Calabasas, California. Note that a 1949 Stylemaster just like this sold for $10,530 at a Bonham’s auction in San Francisco back in 2009.
