1905 Autocar Type X

Sold for $26,400 at 2007 Vintage Motor Cars at Hershey.
The Autocar Company was founded in Ardmore, Pa, in 1901 by the Clark brothers, Lewis, John, and James. They were financially backed by their father, Charles, and additional funding from William Morgan. This was not their first automobile company; they had created the Pittsburgh Motor Vehicle Company in 1897, which stayed in production for only a short time, ending in 1900. The Pittsburgh Motor Vehicle Company created three and four-wheeled vehicles and was one of the earliest producers of automobiles in the country. The brothers moved to Ardmore, PA, and in 1901, had created 27 Autocars. The following year, a two-cylinder unit was introduced featuring a shaft drive in place of the unreliable chain drive.

In 1905 Autocar introduced a four-cylinder car and a six in 1908, though the twin-cylinder cars remained in production during this time. After 1908 the company only offered four-cylinder engines.

The company fostered a reputation for producing reliable automobiles that were easy to drive. Improvements were made every year, and by 1906, the Autocar Company was producing a line of vehicles powered by a four-cylinder engine. Their line-up broadened even further in 1907 with their introduction of commercial vehicles and taxicabs. This movement into the commercial vehicle segment was a move that Autocar felt comfortable with, and by 1912 they were no longer producing automobiles and focused on motor trucks.

It is powered by a horizontally-opposed twin-cylinder L-head engine that displaces 88.4 cubic inches and produces 12 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission, shaft drive, and two-wheel mechanical brakes. The 70-inch wheelbase is suspended in place by a solid front axle and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs in both front and rear.

Over the years, some restoration work has been done on this Type X Autocar, though it remains mostly original. A piece of plywood was fitted as the left front fender, and the chassis was painted red at some point during its life. The hood is bent, the leather on the seat is hardened, and the cushions show signs of a long life. The engine is operable though there may be a cracked water jacket on the right cylinder. It is an unusual left-hand drive with steering column controls including clutch, gear change, throttle, and spark advance.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2007