Men open 80-year-old military crate for the first time and there's an incredible find inside
Published on Jan 04, 2026 at 5:11 PM (UTC+4)
by Siddharth Dudeja
Last updated on Jan 02, 2026 at 2:43 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Alex Maxam
Some YouTubers got their hands on a military crate that had been preserved for over 80 years and decided to pry it open and have a look inside.
That’s right – the crate that had been sitting unopened for over eight decades and had an interesting name slapped on it.
It was from the World War II era and was a package from the Indian Motorcycle Company — which made bikes during the time.
Judging by its size, the military crate looked like it held parts of a motorcycle and could have been an invaluable time capsule.
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Duo opened a military crate sitting for 80 years
Hosts from the YouTube channel Wheels Through Time acquired this piece of history from someone in Long Island, United States.
Naturally, they were interested to see what they would find — so they made a video about it while unboxing the whole thing.
It certainly wasn’t their first time handling something that had been sitting for decades, though.
The host has previously been on similar quests and even attempted to fly a Harley-Davidson-powered airplane from the 1920s.
This military crate, however, had a mystery aspect to it — making for an exciting discovery.
From the outside, the box didn’t show any signs of damage despite being unopened for 80 years.
Whoever packaged it did a remarkable job of making it stand the test of time.
The big reveal


After unbolting quite a few screws, removing the top panel, and uncovering the cover, it was the moment of truth.
Inside, the duo found an amazing motorcycle engine from the Indian Motorcycle Company that was ready to roll.
It was in pristine condition, too.
The engine came with plastic covers, shiny new spark plugs, and even a precautionary tag.


Moreover, it didn’t even have a VIN number stamped on it — that’s how brand-new – well, at the time – it was.
It’s bizarre how something as simple as a military crate can be exciting, and even more in this case, if you’re an enthusiast.
The host mentioned that despite all that time, he could easily fit this machine onto a compatible motorcycle and get it up and running within a matter of minutes.
This was one of the best time capsules we’ve seen and, even better, a piece of automotive history.