The name “Crocker” evokes feelings of hushed reverence in many a passionate motorcycle enthusiast. Long before the modern superbike era, these were the performance machines that looked as good as they went. As the story goes, Crocker offered a money-back guarantee to any owner who got beat in competition by a Harley or an Indian on their Crocker—and, not for nothing, but the legend says the company never paid a dime.
Nothing good lasts forever, though—and Crocker shuttered its doors in 1942. Of the 70 or so Crockers that were ever built, only around 40 or so are estimated to still be with us in 2022. So says Matt Walksler, the American iron engine whisperer and mastermind who helms Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. The 1940 hemi-head Crocker on display at WTT is a gorgeous example, though—and in this video, we get a rare glimpse inside the engine.
