1917 Maxwell Commercial Delivery Car

1917 Maxwell Commercial Delivery Car

In 1903, convinced that he was wasting his money backing the automobile designed by David Buick, sheet-metal manufacturer Benjamin Briscoe turned to engineer Jonathan Maxwell, who had a sound track record with the Oldsmobile and Northern companies. Maxwell's first car, a twin-cylinder model, appeared in 1905, and backed by brilliant sales promotion, the marque became a great success, with annual sales topping 20,000 by 1910. Commercial vehicles had been offered from the start, and despite a hitch when Briscoe's United States Motor combine collapsed in 1912 in an ill-advised attempt to overhaul Ford and Maxwell resumed control of the eponymous firm, which he relocated to Detroit, Maxwell Motors continued to do well.

This 20-hp "Commercial Delivery Car" dates from Maxwell's banner year of 1917, when the 100,000th Maxwell was built. Powered by a four-cylinder L-head engine of just over 3.0 litres, it was promoted by its makers as "designed and constructed by men who have an intimate knowledge of delivery requirements... all parts are made of materials that guarantee long and effective service". The reliability of the model was underlined by Maxwell's claim to have made a world endurance record of 22,022.3 miles without stopping the engine, running continuously for 44 days and nights. The Maxwell Company was ultimately absorbed by Chrysler in 1925.

Descriptions & pictures by bonhams & en.wheelsage & imcdb