1909 Sears Model H

In 1908, Richard Warren Sears, founder of Sears Roebuck and Company in Chicago, Illinois stated 'The Motor Car is truly here to stay; it is time we made some money from it'. In the Fall 1909 Sears Catalogue, they included an ad for the 'Sears Motor Buggy.' The selling price was $395, and it proved to be very popular with women and farmers. It was very easy to start and you could drive it all year long.

The motor is a 14-horsepower two-cylinder, air-cooled direct opposed design. It features a 4 1/8 inch bore by a 4-inch stroke with twin cooling fans. Weight is approximately 1,000 pounds, with a wheelbase of 72 inches. The gas tank holds 5-6 gallons and it has an estimated top speed of 25 miles per hour.

The Sears Buggy has a number of innovative engineering details. It uses a 'shooting type oil system', dual exhaust pipes with silencer mufflers, a selective friction transmission with reverse, and a limited-slip differential on each wheel.

Sears would ship the Motor Buggy in a wooden crate, with one gallon of oil. Assembly consisted of attaching the four wheels and then adding the oil and gas. They sold in excess of 3,500 units and it is believed that approximately 200 still survive.