E Hayes and Sons - The World's Fastest Indian

Table of Contents

Introduction

E Hayes and Sons, the hardware store in Invercargill, New Zealand, is home to one of the most extraordinary visitor experiences in the country: the museum display known as Motorworks Collection™, featuring Burt Munro’s genuine 1920 Indian Scout – the very machine immortalised in the film The World’s Fastest Indian. Located within the sprawling family‑owned store on Dee Street, this unique destination invites potential visitors to explore a compelling blend of retail, history, and legendary motorcycling heritage.

About the Museum

E Hayes and Sons is not a conventional museum. Instead, it is a fully functioning independent hardware store that has been under family ownership since 1932. Throughout its retail space of some three thousand five hundred square metres, visitors are greeted by a curated display of more than one hundred classic, vintage, and modern motorcycles, automobiles, engines, machinery and memorabilia. At its heart sits Burt Munro’s original 1920 Indian Scout, known as the “Munro Special,” the very bike on which he achieved the land speed record of 184.087 mph at Bonneville in August 1967.

The Motorworks Collection™ includes not only motorbikes and cars but also working examples of early machinery, farm implements, hand‑made engine parts, and even Burt Munro’s original workshop shelving labelled “Offerings to the God of Speed,” filled with pistons and conrods. Prop replicates from the 2005 movie The World’s Fastest Indian are also part of the display, and visitors are encouraged to climb into a full‑size streamlined replica shell for an unforgettable photo opportunity.

Although this collection is housed entirely within a working hardware store, entry is completely free during normal store hours, and no purchase is required to enjoy the experience. Guests can relax and recharge in the on‑site coffee shop, Columbus Coffee Café, making the visit both a cultural and comfortable outing.

Interesting Facts

Over one hundred motorcycles, automobiles, engines and memorabilia items are integrated throughout the hardware store’s retail floor.
The centerpiece is Burt Munro’s authentic 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle—known worldwide as “The World’s Fastest Indian”—displayed exactly as he left it.
The land speed record of 184.087 mph, set by Munro in 1967 on the Bonneville Salt Flats, remains unbroken in its class to this day.
Original workshop equipment and engine parts, including hand‑made pistons and broken conrods from Burt’s own shelving, are on display under the evocative title “Offering to the God of Speed”.
Film props from The World’s Fastest Indian are included, and visitors can try climbing into a replica of the streamlined body shell for an engaging photo opportunity.
Entry to the Motorworks Collection™ is entirely free. It is housed in a working Hammer Hardware store, open to the public during normal shop hours without a charge.
Visitors can rest or refresh at the in‑store cafe, which serves coffee and light refreshments, making the outing very visitor‑friendly.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +643 218 2059

Website: ehayes.co.nz/

Facebook: facebook.com/EHayesSonsLtd

Conclusion

A visit to E Hayes and Sons in Invercargill offers a rare and inspiring experience. Far beyond a simple motorcycle exhibit, the store‑museum melds everyday retail with extraordinary motor heritage and the story of a New Zealand legend. You can wander through shelves of hardware and tools, pause to admire vintage vehicles and engine parts, enjoy a coffee, and even pose inside a replica streamliner. Above all you will see—and feel—the authenticity of Burt Munro’s passion and perseverance. 

This unique combination of history, ingenuity, free access and warm hospitality makes a trip to E Hayes and Sons a must for anyone visiting Southland. Whether you are a motorcycle enthusiast, a history lover, or simply curious, you will leave with a lasting impression—and perhaps even new tools on your shopping list.