1909 Stanley Steamer Model E2 Runabout

For most Americans, the Stanley was synonymous with the steam car. The Stanley brothers - Francis E. and Freelan O. - entered the automobile business in 1901 with the Stanley Steam Carriage Company.

Despite the increasing popularity of the internal combustion engine, the Stanley automobile found a loyal - but dwindling - customer base. Stanley's chief competitor in the steam market was White (which switched to internal combustion motors in 1911). Interestingly, the Stanley brothers didn't believe in advertising but finally began doing so in 1917 when sales began to decline, thanks - in part - to the introduction of the self-starter on the internal combustion motor.

This Stanely has been largely reconstructed. In the early 1970s, it was in the care of R.T. Reynolds of Auburn, Maine. By 1973, it was owned by George Sprowl, Sr. of Searsmont, Maine. Sprowl constructed a new body for the car and fitted it with a new boiler. It was also given a new stainless steel boiler.

Years later, the car was sold to Carl Amsley in Pennsylvania. Amsley performed minor maintenance on the vehicle before selling it to Arthur Whiting in Vermont. Mr. Sichel, the current owner, acquired the vehicle around 2003.

In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $60,000 - $80,000 and was offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for $63,250, including the buyer's premium.