Saxon Six History

Introduced in early spring 1915 at roughly $785–795, the Saxon Six was a five-passenger car powered by a Continental six-cylinder engine rated at approximately 34.7 horsepower at 2,200 rpm, on a wheelbase near 112 inches with 32×3½-inch wheels. Marketed on ease of operation, durability, and affordability, it came standard with an electric starter and electric headlights — still considered premium features in 1915 — and was an immediate commercial success.

On the strength of the Six and the cheaper runabout, Saxon reached its high-water mark in the mid-1910s. Total six-cylinder production across the Series S variants (1915–1917) and the Model Y18 (1918–1919) reached approximately 66,034 units — nearly twice the four-cylinder output — and drove the company's peak annual volumes of roughly 27,800 cars in 1916 and 28,219 in 1917, briefly placing Saxon among the seventh-largest U.S. automobile producers. Charles Lindbergh's family drove a Saxon Six during 1917 suffrage campaign activities; Mexican General Ortega and entertainer Sir Harry Lauder were also reported owners.

The Saxon Six evolved through several internal variants: the original Series S with a carburetor on the right side and double-Y intake manifold; S2 with revised manifold and slanted windshield; S3/S4 with further refinements; and the Model Y18 of 1918–1919 adopting a cantilevered rear spring design. The six-cylinder line was no longer listed after 1921 as the company's finances deteriorated beyond recovery.