1915 Mitchell Special Six

History

Starting out as a carriage builder, the Mitchell Motor Car Company produced automobiles from the beginning of the 19th century until 1923. Their first automobile was produced in the 1903, the same year as Henry Ford's first car. Wisconsin's most prominent automaker, Mitchell was famous for producing their own engines and blocks and came to be considered one of the finest producers of quality American cars. 'The car you ought to have, at the price you ought to pay' according to the Mitchell Car Company, and at a starting price of $1,585, the Mitchell Light Six truly was a memorable purchase. Not many cars at the time were as solidly constructed as the Mitchell automobiles.

The Mitchell Company produced the Light Six in 1915. Only two of these six-passenger vehicles are known to exist today. The automobile featured unique specialties that included flip up headlights that could illuminate the engine at night when performing emergency nighttime roadside repairs. The automobile also featured an on/off sliding disc switch on the dash that let the driver know when the engine is running and the generator is charging.

Powering the Light Six was an L head six-cylinder engine of 248.8 cu. inches that produced 45 horsepower. With a 128-inch wheelbase, the tires on the regal automobile were 36 x 4'. Capable of maneuvering through challenging road conditions the rear axle ratio of the Light Six is 4.49 to 1. Featuring a three-speed manual transmission, front leaf spring suspension, 4' x 5 ½' bore and stroke, the Light Six had rear three-quarter elliptical under slung suspension and two-wheel rear mechanical brakes. The cooling system was a mixture of a thermo syphoning system and a circulating water pump.

The vehicle was constructed in typical Mitchell fashion with special attention paid to ensuring durability on bumpy Midwestern roads. The Light Six featured a 4.49:1 rear axle ration that allowed it to traverse tough road conditions with ease.

By Jessica Donaldson