As of three years ago this 1925 Maxwell had been in the same family since it was
new. The current owner bought the car three years ago in very nice condition.
Caught by surprise like the rest of the gulf coast, these people fled Hurricane
Katrina with this prize possession in their garage.
Their home, 10 miles north of I-10, had water 8-10 feet above the roof.
Select Motor Company was chosen for this restoration and the Maxwell will shine
again.
Before we were to get started we asked “Just what is a Maxwell?” Research
revealed this to essentially be the first Mopar. Hemi Cuda owners eat your heart
out!
Maxwell was a brand of automobiles manufactured from 1903 until 1925. Jonathan
Dixon Maxwell and Benjamin Briscoe started the Maxwell-Briscoe company in 1903.
Jonathan was an employee of Oldsmobile and Benjamin had worked for Briscoe
Brothers Metalwork’s.
In 1910 these two men started the United States Motor Company. Maxwell, one of
many brands under U.S.M.C, was the only profitable brand of that corporation.
In 1913 Maxwell was purchased from the failing U.S.M.C by Walter Flanders.
Flanders formed the Maxwell Motor Company Inc. By 1920 M.M.C.I was deep in debt.
In 1921 Walter P. Chrysler gained controlling interest in the Maxwell Motor
Company Inc.
Maxwell Motors was then reincorporated in West Virginia with Walter Chrysler as
the chairman. In 1925 Walter Chrysler formed the Chrysler Corporation and the
Maxwell line was phased out. The Maxwell assets were absorbed by Chrysler.
Several of the first Chryslers were built on the Maxwell design.
This particular Maxwell has a serial number plate that reads Maxwell Motor
Corporation. The wooden framework on the floor has a metal tag that reads C.C
15236.