Kentucky Wagon Mfg Co. --- Dixie Flyer Automobile
The Kentucky Wagon Manufacturing Company was established in 1878 to manufacture horse-drawn carriages and wagons. They became the largest wagon manufacturer in North America, building the popular "Tennessee", "Kentucky" and "Old Hickory" wagons. They were located at 2601 S. 3rd St just south of the University of Louisville campus. Kentucky Trailer is the successor business to Kentucky Wagon.
See below for The Dixie Flyer auto later manufactured by Ky Wagon.
See below for The Dixie Flyer auto later manufactured by Ky Wagon.
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Kentucky Wagon Manufacturing Co.
The Dixie Flyer by Ky Wagon
In 1914 the Hercules Motor Car Company of New Albany contracted with Kentucky Wagon to build bodies for their cars. Hercules went out of business in 1915, with its assets acquired by Kentucky Wagon. From 1916 until 1923 Ky. Wagon designed and built the Dixie Flyer, the first automobile made in Louisville. The company also manufactured delivery trucks and the two-seat Dixie Firefly. The Firefly speedster of 1922 was the sportiest Dixie Flyer but unfortunately it was their last new model.
In June 2010 a restored 1922 Dixie Flyer Firefly Speedster was returned from Melbourne, Australia to Louisville where it was displayed at Kentucky Trailer, the successor business to Kentucky Wagon. It now resides in the Kentucky Trailer Heritage Museum at Kentucky Trailer’s main production plant in Louisville. It was right hand drive made for Australia.
History of the Dixie Flyer Firefly.
The Dixie Flyer Firefly was purchased by a wealthy rancher in Taggerty, Australia where it was used for various purposes including farm chores. Eventually the car was placed in a barn where the rancher’s grandchildren gradually disassembled the vehicle in an attempt to discover how it worked, in the process scattering pieces of the vehicle throughout the barn. The remains were later collected by a scrap metal dealer. Fortunately, he decided to include the parts in a farm auction rather than sell them for scrap.
Automobile enthusiast Bernie Jacobson of Melbourne, Australia, happened to be at the farm sale where the pile of automotive rubble was being auctioned. After acquiring the mess, Jacobson spent the next three years searching for as original parts and fabricating what he could not find to restore the car to its current condition. Upon completion of the project, Jacobson put the car in a shipping container and returned it to its birthplace – Louisville, Kentucky – where it was exhibited as part of the AACA’s 75th anniversary celebration which occurred last summer. Jacobson later sold the vehicle back to its original manufacturer, Kentucky Trailer, who then loaned it to the Museum.
Kentucky Trailer is currently building a display area at their headquarters for this vehicle and other historical artifacts linked to their extensive history. Upon completion of this exhibit space in the spring of 2011 the Dixie Flyer will again return home to its birth place Louisville Kentucky, where it will share space with a horse-drawn trailer, also built by the company. Until then, visitors have the opportunity to see this restored monument to America’s rich and diverse automotive history.
The Dixie Flyer Firefly was purchased by a wealthy rancher in Taggerty, Australia where it was used for various purposes including farm chores. Eventually the car was placed in a barn where the rancher’s grandchildren gradually disassembled the vehicle in an attempt to discover how it worked, in the process scattering pieces of the vehicle throughout the barn. The remains were later collected by a scrap metal dealer. Fortunately, he decided to include the parts in a farm auction rather than sell them for scrap.
Automobile enthusiast Bernie Jacobson of Melbourne, Australia, happened to be at the farm sale where the pile of automotive rubble was being auctioned. After acquiring the mess, Jacobson spent the next three years searching for as original parts and fabricating what he could not find to restore the car to its current condition. Upon completion of the project, Jacobson put the car in a shipping container and returned it to its birthplace – Louisville, Kentucky – where it was exhibited as part of the AACA’s 75th anniversary celebration which occurred last summer. Jacobson later sold the vehicle back to its original manufacturer, Kentucky Trailer, who then loaned it to the Museum.
Kentucky Trailer is currently building a display area at their headquarters for this vehicle and other historical artifacts linked to their extensive history. Upon completion of this exhibit space in the spring of 2011 the Dixie Flyer will again return home to its birth place Louisville Kentucky, where it will share space with a horse-drawn trailer, also built by the company. Until then, visitors have the opportunity to see this restored monument to America’s rich and diverse automotive history.
