Pilot automobiles were manufactured in Richmond, Indiana, from 1909 to 1924. Their slogan was 'The Car Ahead' which was certainly appropriate. In advertisements, Pilot claimed 'the word pilot has been a synonym for honesty in material and construction, and no car built in this country has such a consistent record for unqualified service. They can be compared only with the highest class cars made in this country and selling for a thousand dollars more in price.'
Pilot was an outgrowth of the Seidel Buggy Company of Richmond, named for its founder George Seidel. Mr. Seidel served as its president from the beginning until its end. With a production capacity of about 500 cars per year, they produced approximately 11,000 cars over the years.
Seidel prided himself on the fact that he was among the first companies to employ women. From 1909-1912, Pilot automobiles were exclusively powered by 4-cylinder engines, usually from Teetor-Hartley of Hagerstown, Indiana. In 1913, they offered a six-cylinder engine, as is seen in this prime example.
This Pilot 6-45 Two-door Roadster utilizes a chassis that is a duplicate of one that made a tour from Indianapolis to Los Angeles covering over 4,000 miles without a mechanical adjustment. This car originally sold for $2,250.00.
