Australian Six

Australian Six was an early Australian automobile marque produced by Australian Motors Ltd, based in Ashfield, New South Wales. The venture originated with the American Six, a vehicle imported by F.H. Gordon & Co. and subsequently fitted with new badging for local sale.

To increase local content, the company established a large factory at Ashfield, where assembly incorporated an Australian-designed radiator styled after a classical Grecian temple. Mechanically, the cars remained largely American in origin, powered by a 23-horsepower Rutenber engine of 3,772cc paired with a Grant-Lees three-speed gearbox. The chassis featured a wheelbase of 122 inches (3,098mm), and buyers could choose between artillery-type or disc wheels.

Despite promising early prospects, the venture encountered serious difficulties when a large number of engines were found not to meet contracted standards. These units required stripping and rebuilding before they could be installed in vehicles, a costly process that eliminated the company's projected profit margin. The resulting financial strain led to the collapse of Australian Motors Ltd in 1922.

Following the company's failure, its assets were acquired by Harkness & Hillier of Five Dock, who introduced a revised version of the car fitted with a 26-horsepower, 3,816cc Anstel overhead-valve engine. This updated model continued in small-scale production until 1926. It is estimated that around 1,000 examples were built in total, making the Australian Six the most prolific Australian-made vehicle produced before the Second World War.