1920 McLaughlin K-6-45 Extra Special Master Six

Display Condition: Restored at Reynolds-Alberta Museum
Engine: Inline, six-cylinder, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 4 L (242 ci)
Bore and Stroke: 85.72 x 114.3 mm (3.375 x 4.5 in)
Power: 44.7 kW (60 hp)
Transmission: 3-forward, 1-reverse, manual
Weight: 1338 kg (2,950 lb)
Capacity: 4 passengers
Original Cost: C $2090 (estimate)

McLaughlin built superbly appointed cars called Extra Specials from 1916 to 1924. They featured fancy detailing such as beveled glass rear windows and luxurious materials including mahogany and leather. They were also fast and powerful, and a favourite with Alberta rum runners. Nicknamed "whiskey sixes," the police also used them to try to keep up with criminals. More than 6,400 McLaughlins were built in 1920, making it Canada's third most popular car of the time.

The first passenger vehicles sold in Canada were 2 sleighs built by Robert McLaughlin in 1867. McLaughlin Carriage Company soon became known for the high quality of their product. In 1907, his son Sam was almost ready to enter the car market with the first McLaughlin car, when his engineer, Arthur Milbrath became severely ill. Sam approached Billy Durant, and came away with 15-year rights to use Buick engines and other parts. Called simply McLaughlin, the Canadian car was readily distinguished from the American Buick. It was called, and sometimes advertised as McLaughlin-Buick. Some models, (such as this one) said McLaughlin on the radiator and McLaughlin-Buick on the hub caps.

A citizen of Blairmore, Alberta, Emilio Picarello initially used Fords to bootleg whiskey during prohibition. He tried the bigger, more powerful McLaughlins in 1918 and they proved so successful and became so popular with suppliers of the trade they became known as “Whiskey Sixes”. More than 6,400 McLaughlins were built in 1920, making it Canada’s third most popular car that year.

The "Extra Special" on this model refers to added touches, such as solid walnut, illuminated instrument panel, locking glove compartment, and grey leather upholstery that matches the colour of the top.

Chronology:

1867 - The first passenger vehicles sold in Canada were 2 sleighs built by Robert McLaughlin at his Blacksmith shop in Enniskillen, Ontario, Canada.
1876 - Robert McLaughlin moved the company to Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
1880s - McLaughlin patented his fifth-wheel mechanism which improved safety and comfort.
1899 - McLaughlin Carriage Works was destroyed by fire and the City of Oshawa lent McLaughlin C $50,000 to rebuild.
1901 - McLaughlin Carriage Company is incorporated and production numbers are over 25,000 units and sales for the year are over one million dollars.
1905 - Robert's son Sam McLaughlin became interested in automobiles and tried to make a deal with Durant of Buick to combine manufacturing but no deal was made at the time.
1907 - Sam formed his own car company - The McLaughlin Motor Car Company Limited and he made a 15 year deal with Buick to buy their drive trains for his vehicles.
1907 - The Model F is the first McLaughlin car produced.
1915 - The McLaughlin Carriage Company is sold to Cariage Factories Ltd. of Orillia, Ontario and they started switching from making carriages to car bodies for companies, including McLaughlin Motor Car Company.
1916 - General Motors Corporation is formed with Sam McLaughlin as a director and Vice-President. McLaughlin began manufacturing Chevrolet automobiles in his plant.
1918 - General Motors of Canada was incorporated when Mclaughlin and Chevrolet merged. GM Canada built a large plant in Walkerville, Ontario.
1923 - The Canadian bodied model was officially called the McLaughlin-Buick and continued under that badge until 1942 when the McLaughlin was dropped and the vehicles were just called Buicks.
1962 - Stan Reynolds acquired this K-6-45 from Camrose, Alberta, Canada.
1984 - Stan Reynolds donates the vehicle to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum.