This 1939 Indian Four was previously owned by Indian Motor Works founder, owner, and expert restorer, Jeff Grigsby who dubbed it “Smokey Joe.” The bike is finished in black with gold accents and is powered by a 77ci flathead inline-four linked to a hand-shifted three-speed transmission. Features include a leaf-spring fork, 18″ wire-spoke wheels, drum brakes, a Linkert carburetor, and a four-into-one exhaust system as well as a brown leather solo saddle, valanced fenders, a headlight, a taillight, a headdress horn, and a four-into-one exhaust system with a chrome heat shield and tailpipe. This Model 439 was purchased by the seller in 2023 and is now offered with a clean Colorado title in the seller’s name.
The motorcycle is finished in black with with gold pinstriping and Indian graphics over a painted-to-match tubular steel frame. Features include a double-sprung brown leather solo seat, a rear luggage rack, valanced fenders, a rear-fender bumper, folding footboards, and both side and rear-wheel stands.
The name “Smokey Joe” appears on the right fuel tank, etched there by Jeff Grigsby during his ownership. Additional close-up photos that show worn and chipped paint, touch-ups, and corrosion on various metal surfaces can be viewed in the gallery.
Black-painted rims are laced to drum-brake hubs and mounted with 4.00×18″ Coker Indian Script zig-zag tread front and Goodyear Deluxe All-American diamond-tread rear tires. The bike’s only suspension consists of a quarter-leaf-spring trailing-link fork.
A black-finished, cross-braced inline handlebar equipped with a headdress horn, a front-brake hand lever, and a right-side mirror features through-the-bar control-sleeve routing for the a twist-grip throttle on the left and a twist-grip timing advance on the right. A Corbin 130-mph speedometer, a Connecticut Telephone & Electric Co. (Conn Tel & Electric Corp) ammeter, and a keyed ignition switch are housed in a tank-top dashboard, and a US Gauge Co. oil-pressure gauge is mounted on the engine adjacent to the foot-brake pedal. The five-digit odometer shows 26k miles, 300 of which were ridden by the seller.
The 77ci inline-four is equipped with a Linkert M17R carburetor, a pancake-style air cleaner with a chrome cover, and a four-into-one exhaust manifold with a chrome heat shield and tailpipe. The most recent service was performed in 2026 when the oil was changed and the battery was replaced.
Power is transferred to the rear wheel through a pedal-actuated clutch, a three-speed transmission with a right-side hand shifter, and a drive chain.
The bike is titled using the engine number DCI159 which is stamped on the transmission housing and is consistent with a Model 439 of 1939 vintage. The bike is titled using the number DC1159, replacing the letter I with a number 1.