North Carolina guys were sent a never opened 1940s military crate and unearth a piece of history
- These North Carolina guys had been given a piece of history
- It was an unopened military crate from the 1940s
- When they opened it up, they were delighted with what they found inside
Published on May 27, 2025 at 3:47 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on May 22, 2025 at 7:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
These guys from North Carolina were sent a 1940s military crate that had never been opened and unearthed a piece of history.
The YouTube channel Wheels Through Time have taken on some antiques in their time.
But taking on an unopened piece of US military was a whole other level of cool.
This crate had been sitting unopened for 80 years, and it was high time that it was opened back up.
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It’s a real privilege to be a part of history.
But that can come in many different ways.
For some, that could involve making Cher and Sonny’s Mustangs, discovering some old coins in a trailer, or even wrapping JoJo Siwa’s face around a Lamborghini Urus.
But for the team on Wheels Through Time, unearthing a treasure from the 1940s was their mark on history.
Considering the crate in question hadn’t been opened since 1940, it opened up remarkably well.
But what was inside?
After unscrewing the bolts and removing the box’s top panel, the mystery was solved.
Sitting inside a motorcycle engine from the Indian Motorcycle Company.
The American brand was originally in operation between 1901 and 1953, before resuming operation in 1999.
During the 1910s, it was the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world – and the factory team had a solid winning streak at the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy in 1911.
Among its most popular models were the Scout, made between 1920 and 1946, and the Chief, made from 1922 to 1953.
The engine discovered by Wheels Through Time was from 1940.
Remarkably, it was all still there.
“It’s just amazing, guys you’re looking at brand new parts,” one of the hosts gushed.
“To find a whole motor preserved in a crate is about as exciting as it gets.”
There was no VIN on the motor, so it really was brand new.
It was a good thing to secure for their Wheels Through Time Museum, which is located in Maggie Valley, North Carolina.
Over 375 American motorcycles and cars are featured in the museum, which is dedicated to transportation history.
To see the old school unboxing for yourself, head over to the Wheels Through Time YouTube channel.
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