SPENCER, MA – The call came back in the summer requesting that Barnstorm Cycles here create a one-off motorcycle to be sold by Tiffany & Co. as one its 12 exclusive “very, very Tiffany holiday” gifts.
Tiffany began the process by approaching Indian, which directed the world-renowned jeweler to Barnstorm Cycles to modify a new Indian Scout model into a Tiffany blue custom. It would have other unique features and would sell for $35,000.
While the Tiffany’s listing for the bike calls it a “one-of-a-kind Tiffany Blue Indian Scout,” and notes that only one is available for purchase, Sean Briggs of Barnstorm Cycles reports that two were actually built over the ensuing months.
The Scouts came from Wagner Motorsports, the Indian dealer in Worcester, MA. One was modified to be sold; the other was altered to be displayed at Tiffany’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York.
Among the upgrades to the Scout(s) were the addition of custom-laced wheels with chrome rims and spokes, along with vintage tires; Tiffany-designed engine covers, and a Roland Sands seat.
Also added were a handmade, polished stainless steel exhaust and a sterling silver plaque on the front fender. There was also the paint job in the jeweler’s trademarked color.
It may not be the most expensive items on Tiffany’s list – a diamond necklace has a price of $1.9 million – but the Scout instantly got loads of interest when displayed for sale. “They had a waiting list for it in like 12 hours,” Briggs said.
For Barnstorm Cycles, the order from Tiffany has brought new awareness and luster to the business. “It’s definitely a neat thing,” said Briggs. “It brings us in front of some new people.”
Barnstorm Cycles has done other work for Indian in the past as well as has some other projects currently in progress, a relationship that enabled it to now have its workmanship on display at Tiffany & Co.
“We love it because it was suggested by Indian,” Briggs said.
(Photos from Tiffany’s and Jeff Goldblum’s Instagram pages and from Barnstorm Cycles.)