Pilot Motor Car Company Square Porcelain Fridge Magnet
White / 2" x 2" / Square
$19.99
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Pilot Motor Car Company Square Porcelain Fridge Magnet
$19.99
Product Details & Size Guide
GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Keep a small reminder of Indiana motoring history close at home. Founded in Richmond in 1909, the Pilot Motor Car Company grew from the Seidel Buggy Company and pursued automobile making with the slogan “The Car Ahead.” Its story spans changing engines and models, the Sportster introduced in 1922, a takeover of another Richmond marque, and the company’s receivership in 1923. Pilot’s final cars were built in early 1924. This square porcelain fridge magnet makes a thoughtful keepsake for classic car fans, local history enthusiasts, and collectors of independent American automakers.
The Pilot Motor Car Company was founded in Richmond, Indiana, in 1909 and headed by George Seidel, of the Seidel Buggy Company. Its first cars were built in the buggy factory while a separate automobile plant was being constructed across town. The company name is believed to have reflected Seidel’s wish to become a riverboat pilot, and its advertising slogan was “The Car Ahead.” The new plant could initially build 500 cars a year; production approached 1,000 in some later years. Pilot first used four-cylinder Teetor-Hartley engines, adding a six-cylinder model in 1913. From 1915 through 1924, the range was six-cylinder, except for a V8 option offered for one year, 1916. A larger Herschell-Spillman six joined the line in 1920, and the Sportster followed in summer 1922. The company took over Richmond’s Lorraine automobile maker and briefly produced a few Lorraine hearses. The 1920–21 depression did not spare Pilot: the firm entered receivership in 1923, and its final cars were built in early 1924. The factory was then sold to a local businessman. Seidel’s own cars reflected his hometown ties: he drove a Richmond, then a Pilot, and later a Davis.
Keep a small reminder of Indiana motoring history close at home. Founded in Richmond in 1909, the Pilot Motor Car Company grew from the Seidel Buggy Company and pursued automobile making with the slogan “The Car Ahead.” Its story spans changing engines and models, the Sportster introduced in 1922, a takeover of another Richmond marque, and the company’s receivership in 1923. Pilot’s final cars were built in early 1924. This square porcelain fridge magnet makes a thoughtful keepsake for classic car fans, local history enthusiasts, and collectors of independent American automakers.
The Pilot Motor Car Company was founded in Richmond, Indiana, in 1909 and headed by George Seidel, of the Seidel Buggy Company. Its first cars were built in the buggy factory while a separate automobile plant was being constructed across town. The company name is believed to have reflected Seidel’s wish to become a riverboat pilot, and its advertising slogan was “The Car Ahead.” The new plant could initially build 500 cars a year; production approached 1,000 in some later years. Pilot first used four-cylinder Teetor-Hartley engines, adding a six-cylinder model in 1913. From 1915 through 1924, the range was six-cylinder, except for a V8 option offered for one year, 1916. A larger Herschell-Spillman six joined the line in 1920, and the Sportster followed in summer 1922. The company took over Richmond’s Lorraine automobile maker and briefly produced a few Lorraine hearses. The 1920–21 depression did not spare Pilot: the firm entered receivership in 1923, and its final cars were built in early 1924. The factory was then sold to a local businessman. Seidel’s own cars reflected his hometown ties: he drove a Richmond, then a Pilot, and later a Davis.
| 2" x 2" | |
| Width, in | 2.00 |
| Height, in | 2.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.25 |
Product features
- 2" square porcelain tile with glossy finish
- Superior coating for bright, true-to-design color reproduction
- Vibrant, crisp printing using modern techniques
- Strong magnet mounted on the backside for secure hold
- Durable glossy surface that highlights fine details and contrasts
Care instructions
- Gently wipe the dirt or dust off with a clean, dry microfiber cloth
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Generic brand, two year warranty in the EU and Northern Ireland
Care instructions: Gently wipe the dirt or dust off with a clean, dry microfiber cloth