HARLEYS vs INDIANS
Scenes from the Petersen Automotive Museum's exhibit

Pictures by Albert J. Wong The Petersen Automotive Museum newest exhibit showcases the rivalry between two of America’s iconic motorcycle manufacturers, Harley-Davidson and Indian. The two companies have a long-documented rivalry that spans more than a century. The exhibition, presented by Bonnier Corporation, is now open to the public in the Richard Varner Family Gallery and will run through early February 2018. Ace photographer Albert J. Wong was there to optically lasso the two-wheeled stallions into the lens of his digital camera.

The Harley vs. Indian exhibition features racing motorcycles, road motorcycles, scooters, trikes and more from both Harley-Davidson and Indian’s long histories as manufacturers. The exhibit showcases the incredible similarities and marked differences in the approach of both companies to solving complex mechanical problems. It also takes an in-depth look at the famous Harley-Davidson and Indian racing rivalry that drove much of their respective technological innovations.

Among the two-wheel works of art on display are a 1936 Harley Davidson Knucklehead, a 1939 Indian Super Scout, a 1920 Indian Daytona racer, as well as both companies’ modern flat-track racing bikes. The three-wheeled offerings on display include a 1922 Harley with a period sidecar and a 1936 Indian Dispatch Tow. The exhibition also features minibikes and scooters, including a 1948 Indian Stylemaster and a 1963 Harley-Davidson Topper.

“All of us at the museum share a great passion for motorcycles,” said Terry Karges, Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. “It’s our great pleasure to be able to showcase the history of these two incredible American manufacturers and to educate the public on their contributions to American culture throughout the last century.”

The opening reception for Harley vs. Indian was held at the museum on March 2, 2017 and featured KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez as well as a discussion panel featuring Nevin Pontious from Deus Ex Machina, Petersen board member Richard Varner, Cycle World editor Mark Hoyer and AMA Hall of Famer Don Emde. The evening was also filled with other motorcycle luminaries including Go Takamine of BratStyle, Shinya Kimura, Julian Heppekausen of Deus and many more.

See 68 of Albert's images from the exhibit and add your Facebook comment regarding this article here. For more information about the event or exhibit, visit petersen.org.