1920 Saxon 12hp Two-Seater

Established in the heart of the US motor industry – Detroit, Michigan – in 1913, the Saxon Motor Car Co. bravely entered the fray of the burgeoning motor industry as a latecomer at a time when Henry Ford's Model T commanded centre stage. Their early advertising boasted 'A high-grade, well designed, carefully built, two-passenger automobile with a four-cylinder motor, standard tread and other standard features, produced by an experienced organisation, soundly financed and well-managed'. Would such self-proclaimed credentials enable the fledgling company to eat into the market dominance of Henry Ford – only time would tell. Their new four-cylinder car was attractively priced at significantly less than the Model T, was conventional in most respects, and was well-manufactured under the watchful eye of Saxon President, Hugh Chalmers. Initial production was about 1,000 cars per month. The Demotcar factory proved hopelessly inadequate for such numbers and production was moved to the Abbott factory. Production numbers were about 12,000 units in 1915 rising to almost double that number in 1916 – so here was a car that found its own place in the market and was both reliable and priced competitively. Sadly over-trading, an overly ambitious plan to expand production and a wartime shortage of materials saw the demise of this plucky manufacturer in 1922.

The Saxon was acquired as a kit of parts by David Biggins. He came up with the idea of making a straight-eight Saxon mating two four-cylinder engines together. Those engines come with the car. To get it up and running, he rebuilt the engine that is fitted to the car, fitted some small bucket seats and a rear box to make a very light VSCC trials car. A set of wooden wheels and four spare radiators are included with the car along with a spare front axle beam. The car was used by David on three trials, but during the last outing the gear lever snapped and the car has been in the barn since. It will require fettling prior to active use. It's fitted with an electric starter, chain-driven onto a pulley on the flywheel. A charming little car, unique!