Indian Camelback (1901 to 1909)

The Camelback was introduced by Indian Motorcycles in 1901 as the first motorcycle manufactured by the brand in Springfield, marking the beginning of mass production of motorcycles in the United States. Its name comes from the distinctive hump-shaped fuel tank mounted above the rear wheel. Early models featured a 213cc single cylinder engine and later enlarged to 253cc. From 1904, Indian began manufacturing its own engines in Springfield, increasing power and displacement to around 288cc, while maintaining the single cylinder design. The Camelback gradually evolved in equipment and reliability until 1909 when its production ended.