3.3 Important Steam Powered Cars

• Britain: Thomas Rickett made a three- wheeled steam powered car in 1860.

• The vehicle, which had a rear mounted, high pressure (110 psi) coal fired boiler, had a reputed top speed of 19 mph (30 kph).

• It had room for three passengers and a boilerman, with the front right hand side passenger operating the tiller steering mechanism and other controls.

• The car went into production, making it possibly the first British production car.

• France: Amedee Bollee built a range of advanced-design vehicles from 1873 to 1883.

• His finely built steam powered carriages were individually named. The first one, built in 1873, was called “The obedient”.

• “La Mancelle” built in 1878 had a front-mounted engine with the boiler positioned behind the passenger compartment.

• In the same year he invented an independent front-wheel suspension system with upper and lower transverse leaf springs.

• France: De Dion-Bouton was a car manufacturer that operated in France from 1883 to 1932.

• The company was founded by Albert de Dion, Georges Bouton and his brother in law Charles Trépardoux.

• By the end of 1883 the company had produced their first steam powered, rear wheeled steered car.

• In the following year they produced an improved vehicle, which had front wheel steering and could seat four people.

• In the mid 1890s their three-wheeled models were some of the first cars to be fitted with Michelin’s new pneumatic tires.
  
  

• France: Armand Peugeot produced a three-wheeled steam powered car in collaboration with Léon Serpollet (French) in 1889.

• United States: Ransom Eli Olds built a steam powered three-wheeler in 1891. It is believed to be America’s first car.

• France: Leon Serpollet designed and built an efficent flash boiler in 1896 that made steam a more practical source of power for cars.

• He produced cars under the name Serpollet and Gardner-Serpollet from about 1899 until 1907.
  
  

• In April 1902 Leon Serpollet became the first driver of a non-electrically powered car to hold the land speed record when he drove his steam powered “Oeuf de Pacques” (Easter Egg) car at 120.80 kph (75.06 mph).

• United States: The “Stanley Steamer” was a steam powered car that was designed in 1897 by the twins Francis and Freelan Stanley.  
  
                                                                Stanley Steamer - 1912

• In 1906 a Stanley steam powered car called the “Stanley Rocket” driven by Fred Marriott set a world land speed record of 127.659 mph (205.447 kph).
  
  

• It is claimed that a Stanley boiler never exploded whilst a vehicle was in use.

• United States: The Locomobile Company started producing steam powered cars in 1899.
  
  

• These steam powered vehicles had flammable paraffin fires.

• In 1902 the company started experimenting with petrol powered engines, ceasing production of steam vehicles shortly afterwards.
  
  
  
  Locomobile, 7 Passenger Touring Car - 1920

• In 1922 the company was acquired by Durant Motors who used the “Locomobile” brand name until 1929.