Built in Chicago from 1903 to 1910, the Holsman (also known as a 'high-wheeler' or 'Motor Buggy') was little more than a standard buggy powered by a small engine rather than by a horse. This true 'horseless carriage' evolved out of the need for a practical car that could be driven successfully over the incredibly poor roads of the period, which were 'muddy, rutty, rough or rocky.'The short-lived phenomena of the high-wheeler became obsolete as roads improved and air-filled (pneumatic) tires became more reliable.This 1909 Holsman High Wheel Runabout is powered by a two-cylinder engine rated at 12.8 horsepower. It rides on an 80-inch wheelbase and sold new for $550.
