Jay.Lenos.Garage.1940.Indian.Chief.1080p.WEB.H264-BeechyBoy.mp4

Jay Leno's Totaled 1940 Indian Chief Restored - July 14 2026

What happens when a rare 1940 Indian Chief motorcycle—once owned by NFL legend Joe Montana—gets completely totaled in a freak U-turn accident? You completely rebuild it from scratch, better than it ever left the showroom floor! In this week's episode, Jay Leno shares the unbelievable story of his personal 1940 Indian Chief motorcycle and sidecar. After a brutal crash with an unmarked wire fence knocked Jay off the bike and sent the three-wheeler smashing through bushes and into a building, it was deemed a total loss. But instead of walking away, Jay handed the wreckage to the premier Indian specialists at Kiwi Indian, along with expert fabricator Jimmy Hudson and mechanic George Swift. Together, they discovered the bike's hidden history of bad Bondo, poor chrome jobs, and structural metal fatigue. Watch as the team uncovers the dangers of hydrogen embrittlement, hand-fabricates a brand-new 110-pound steel sidecar completely from scratch, and completely rebuilds the massive 1300cc flathead engine and three-speed transmission. It's a gorgeous blue-and-white cruiser that proves vintage American iron never truly dies