1922 Stanley Steamer Model 740 Roadster

The Stanley automobile continued to evolve and perfect its product over the years, and by the late teens and early 1920s, the appearance of their vehicle had become more conventional, with the boilers and cylinders mounted ahead of the firewall, and the cars had what appeared to be ordinary radiator shells with filler caps. The automobile business, however, has never been an easy business venture, and by this point in history, the Stanley Company was in financial trouble. The Kettering electric self-starter on the 1912 Cadillac had virtually made the Stanley product obsolete. Drivers could easily and gracefully jump into a 1912 Cadillac and blissfully drive away. Stanley vehicles, however, required more foresight. Other manufacturers began offering the self-starter in their vehicles, making steam-powered vehicles less attractive. By 1923, Stanley was in receivership, and its assets were sold the following year.

This 1922 Stanley Model 740 Roadster has been in Robert Ullrich's custody since the 1950s. He had discovered the car in Culver City, California, in the care of Bill Wright, who informed Mr. Ullrich that it had been stored in a garage since 1932. Mr. Wright was interested in steam but had never seen a steam car before. He had brought the car home and was determined to get it running again, which turned out to be a relatively uncomplicated process. Along the way, he replaced the original 20hp steam boiler with one from a 30hp model.

Currently, it is believed the car is wearing its original black paint and is fitted with wire wheels.