1910 Stearns Model 30-60 Touring

Automobiles built by the F.B. Stearns Company were renowned for their incredibly high quality, durability, and performance. This superb example of the 30/60, so called for its horsepower at idle and acceleration, featured a 535 cubic-inch, four-cylinder, L-head engine cased in a lightweight body. These cars raced with great success and broke speed records across the United States. Bill Harrah acquired this Stearns for his collection and drove it with his friend Bud Catlett from Reno, Nevada, to Beloit, Kansas, in 1954 on the HCCA National Tour. (Catlett got a speeding ticket at 83 mph). The current owner has driven this Stearns across the Sierra Nevada with gradients of 27%, saying 'the only problem is trying to pass slower modern-day cars going uphill!'

Frank Ballou Stearns hired the most talented and skilled machinists to 'build a motorcar which would beat the world.' Each horseless carriage built by his F.B. Stearns Company was tested at speed on country roads surrounding the Cleveland, Ohio, factory, typically piloted by Frank Stearns himself. This resulted in an enviable reputation for build quality and the durability of their automobiles.

The Type 30/60 was introduced in 1907 and came equipped with a 533 cubic-inch L-head four-cylinder engine with ball bearings for all rotating shafts, including the offset crankshaft. Ball bearings were used throughout the entire driveline and chassis, allowing top speeds of nearly 80 mph. Power produced by the engine was sent to the rear wheels via a chain drive system, which Mr. Stearns preferred over a shaft drive setup.

Demonstrating the performance of their product, a stock 30/60 model won at the Giants Despair and Briarcliff hill climbs, often piloted by legendary driver Barney Oldfield.

This particular 1910 Stearns 30/60 Touring is powered by a 533 cubic-inch L-Head inline four-cylinder fitted with a single Updraft Stearns Twin-Function carburetor and producing 60 horsepower at 1,600 RPM. It has a four-speed manual transaxle with dual-chain drive, two-wheel mechanical drum brakes with a transmission brake, and a live rear axle with a suspension comprised of semi-elliptical leaf springs and Hartford Friction Dampers.

Marcus Daly II of Anaconda, Montana, acquired this Type 30/60 new in 1910; in January 1915, Mr. Daly's chauffeur was driving the Stearns through Anaconda when the front axle broke while rounding a bend. The car rolled, the original touring coachwork was damaged, but no one was seriously injured. After the accident, the car was put into storage, where it resided for the next decade until Daly's mother donated it to the local fire department. They used it on a regular basis until 1940, modifying the vehicle to suit their needs, including the addition of fire tender bodywork. When the fire department parted with the Stearns in 1953, it was acquired by Mr. R. Stanley Rhees of Boise, Idaho. The car remained with Mr. Rhees for nearly two decades when it was acquired by casino magnate William F. Harrah in November 1971. At the time, the Stearns still wore the fire tender body.

While in the Harrah Collection, another 30/60 Stearns (shaft drive) owned by Harrah provided the factory five-passenger coachwork that it wears today. The Stearns was returned to its original, as-delivered configuration. The original Stearns touring body from the other car was easily bolted directly onto this chassis. The restoration work was completed in 1975.

After Mr. Harrah's death in 1978, the collection was dispersed through a series of 'Harrah's Auctions.' This Stearns was sold at one of those auctions, in September 1985, and acquired by its current caretaker. During their 38 years of ownership, the car has been driven on numerous HCCA Modoc Tours and a Brass Era summit tour.

A detailed restoration was performed by Stewart Laidlaw, and the exterior was refinished in the color of Stearns Gray using an original Stearns factory paint swatch owned by the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Ohio.

In 2023, this Stearns was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it was awarded First in the A-1 Antique Class. It was also shown at the Ironstone Concours d'Elegance, where it won Best of Show.

This 1910 Stearns is one of six original examples of the 30/60 in existence.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2024