1913 Stevens Duryea Model C Touring

The Stevens-Duryea motor was 'There is No Better Motor car.' It was founded by J. Frank Duryea, considered to be the father of the American automobile industry. His first car, which he built with his brother in September 1893, was the first gasoline-powered car built in America. The company persisted until the early 1920s when it was purchased by Ray M. Owen of Owen Magnetic. Production would continue until 1927.

This car is an original California car and has never had a complete restoration. It has been well taken care of throughout its life. The exterior is light gray with burgundy accents. It has factory-fitted brass. There are gray-painted wooden wheels with burgundy accents, dual rearview mirrors, and a rear-mounted luggage trunk.

The engine is a six-cylinder unit cast-in-pairs and has been restored to show quality. There is a twin ignition with two spark plugs per cylinder. It is believed that this car is one of about ten such examples that are known to exist in modern times.

In 2008 this car was brought to the 2nd Annual Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey presented by RM Auctions, where it was estimated to sell for $250,000 - $350,000. Bidding reached $143,000 but was not enough to satisfy the car's reserve. The lot remained unsold.

This Stevens-Duryea is one of seven surviving short-wheelbase Model C-Six cars. The earliest known owner was Arthur Twohy, of California, who was the co-founder and inaugural president of the Horseless Carriage Club of America. In May of 1939, the HCCA's Gazette listed Mr. Twohy as owning this car, which participated in an HCCA field day at a GM plant in Southern California.

Mr. Twohy eventually sold his Stevens-Duryea to Edward French of San Ysidro, California. In July of 1968, he drove the car in the Transcontinental Tour between New York and San Francisco, among other journeys. Mr. French drove the car from California to New York, then back across the U.S.

Mr. French owned the Stevens-Duryea well into the 1970s. The next owner was the late Jasper Wiglesworth of Kansas. It later passed to David Noran, of Kentucky, who owned the car and was very active with it until it was acquired by its present family in 1997.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2015