Indian 1939 Dispatch Tow 750 cc 2 cyl sv 3608

Indian 1939 “Dispatch Tow” 750 cc side valve V-twin frame # 639396 engine# FCI396B

Next to the motorcycles with commercial side cars Indian marketed some vehicles with two rear wheels on a differential-type axle. The first of this was the Dispatch Tow. It was first brought out in 1931 as a vehicle specially designed for use by automobile dealers, fitted with a 101 Scout engine. At that time cars needed more frequent garage maintenance (lubrication and running adjustments) and two men were usually needed to pick up a car at a customer’s home. The Dispatch Tow was equipped with a tow bar. After arriving at the customer’s home the mechanic would connect the three-wheeler to the rear of the car and tow it back to the garage and vice versa when the car was ready. It was quite a successful design and in its first year on the market nearly 400 were sold. Between 1932 and 1935 the model was discontinued and it came back in 1935. The forward section was basically a Sport Scout with an automotive-style rear end with a fully enclosed differential. After that year the DT was regularly updated and stayed in production until 1942.
Next to the automotive use the DT was also promoted for pick-up or delivery of packages and parcels, and for police duties. Businesses such as drugstores, package stores and grocery stores could deliver their goods fast and efficient with these practical vehicles in busy and overcrowded city centres. The DTs also offered extra advertising value for they were conspicuous machines. The maximum load capacity was 500 pounds or 227 kg and two body sizes were available, with capacities of 6 and 9.5 cubic feet. The padded seat cover with hand rails was practical when an extra hand was needed, for instance when more cars had to be picked up. Tow bars were not fitted to the DTs that were used for pick-up or delivery of goods, as our machine was. This well- restored and pretty rare 6 cu. ft. capacity Dispatch Tow has been displayed in a private Indian collection for quite a number of years and comes with a current Dutch road registration.