1901 Toledo Model A International Steam Runabout

By the turn of the century, encouraging breakthroughs had been made in the development of motorized transportation using three means of power - gasoline, electricity, and steam. In 1900, the American Bicycle Co. reorganized its manufacturing plant in Toledo, Ohio, into the International Motor Car Co. and began producing a line of steam-powered motor carriages. The first steam cars were sold under the names Toledo and Westchester, but by 1901 the entire company was simply known as Toledo. The first steam cars were powered by a vertical two-cylinder, 56.5 cubic-inch, double-acting engine, developing six horsepower. Typical for 1901, the Toledo utilized a simple tiller steering handle and carriage-style coachwork with the steam engine positioned under the body and passenger seat. The Toledo was advertised as well adapted for various destinations, but well adapted or not, the price of $900 was a considerable amount of money in 1901. The steamers were dropped in 1903.

This example is one of the very few known to survive.