1911 Stanley Steamer Touring

This display vehicle is a 1911 30HP two-passenger roadster one-off prototype that is approximately 80% restored. The body is all wood, and it is widely believed that this vehicle was made to develop the aluminum-bodied roadsters that commenced being built shortly after this car was completed.

F. E. Stanley's son Raymond was very interested in automobile design, and this car bares his influence. Ray was only 16 when this 30 HP Special, #6052, was made. It is as described in the original serial book that has survived. Ray went on to Harvard and majored in design. Years later, Ray revealed this was his 2nd car and the first one he had a hand designing. He also said he raced Abner Doble on Commonwealth Avenue (one of the few paved roads in Boston at the time), but he always beat me!

This car was delivered out of the Stanley family on April 25, 1912, when Raymond's third car was ready. Part of his design wishes was accomplished by drop mounting the springs outboard of the wood frame instead of underneath it. The effect on this vehicle results in an appearance that is very unimposing, which 30 HP Stanley's tended to be as they were usually large, expensive cars, especially compared to the more common smaller 10-20 HP models that made up well over 90% of total production during the coffin-nose era from 1905 through 1914.