DIXIE FLYER

Dixie Motor Car Co. (1916-1923)
Louisville, Kentucky

This is a Dixie Flyer radiator emblem (1920-1923)    mjs
Size: 70mm wide 52mm high    MM: Unknown

The Dixie Motor Car Company was established as a subsidiary of Kentucky Wagon Manufacturing Company. The Dixie Flyer was introduced in February 1916 as a 17 hp four-cylinder touring car, which had an upright windshield built integral with the curved dash and a radiator mounted on springs. These features did not last throughout the life of the Dixie Flyer but all were four-cylinder cars. In late 1917 the Shadburne Brothers bought the Dixie Company but Kentucky Wagon bought it back almost immediately.

A sporty, wire-wheeled speedster version of the Dixie Flyer appeared in 1921 and was called the Firefly in 1922. However, the post war depression in the early 1920's brought problems and production of the Dixie Flyer ceased in 1923. In 1923 Associated Motor Industries and Corporation took over the Dixie Flyer, as well as Jackson (see Jackson) and National (see National). Many of the last Dixie Flyers of 1923 became Nationals simply by replacing the radiator emblem and hubcaps.

Emblems

The advertisements for the first Dixie Flyer in 1916 include an illustration of an oval shaped logo, see example below:

Dixie Flyer advertisement showing the logo (1916)  ma

The red, white and blue enamel Dixie Flyer radiator emblem shown below is the first Dixie Flyer radiator emblem and closely follows the logo shown above. This Dixie Flyer radiator emblem is very rare.

This is a Dixie Flyer radiator emblem (1916-c1919)    sam
Size: 65mm wide 45mm high   MM: Unknown (some None)

The oval Dixie Flyer logo inscribed "Dixie Motor Car Co.Incorporated" appears in advertisements by the Dixie Motor Car Company until 1919. From 1919, the oval logo is inscribed "Kentucky Wagon Mfg. Co. Incorporated", see example shown below:

Kentucky Wagon Mfg. Co. Incorporated logo 

I have never seen a Dixie Flyer radiator emblem inscribed with "Kentucky Wagon Mfg. Co. Incorporated". However, if such a Dixie Flyer emblem does exist it would be extremely rare.

A surviving 1919 Dixie Flyer Model HS-50 is displayed in a museum in Iceland and carries an oval Dixie Flyer radiator emblem but with no company inscription, see photo shown below. This Dixie Flyer radiator emblem appears at a time of change in the Dixie Flyer emblem design and is extremely rare.

This is a Dixie Flyer radiator emblem (1919-1920)    ms
Size: Unknown      MM: Unknown

Advertisements for the Dixie Flyer up to January 1920 still show the oval shaped "Kentucky Wagon Mfg. Co." logo but from April 1920, Dixie Flyer advertisements show an octagonal shaped radiator emblem as the logo, see example shown below:

This is a Dixie Flyer ad showing new logo (1920)    ma

The Dixie Flyer radiator emblem was changed from 1920 to the octagonal shaped red, white, blue and black enamel Dixie Flyer radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post and again below. This Dixie Flyer radiator emblem follows the new logo design and is very rare.

This is a Dixie Flyer radiator emblem (1920-1923)   mjs
Size: 70mm wide 52mm high    MM: Unknown

The following is an early brass Dixie Flyer hubcap:

This is a Dixie Flyer hubcap (c1916)    dkc

The following is a Dixie Flyer hub emblem with a similar design. This Dixie Flyer hub emblem is rare.

This is a Dixie Flyer hub emblem (1916-c1919)    sam
Size: 55mm diameter    MM: None

The following photo shows a later, well worn red, white and blue enamel Dixie Flyer hub emblem. This Dixie Flyer hub emblem is very rare.

This is a Dixie Flyer hub emblem (c1920-1923)   sam
Size: 46mm diameter    MM: Unknown

The following photo shows a Dixie Flyer wire-wheel hub emblem. This Dixie Flyer hub emblem is very rare.

This is a Dixie Flyer wire-wheel hub emblem (1921-1922)  moroz
Size; Unknown    MM: Unknown