Runabout Buggy
Chassis number: 843

This High-wheeler is a rare example of early Americana produced by the Success Auto Buggy Manufacturing Company in St. Louis, Missouri. Riding on a 62-inch wheelbase, this Model B is powered by a single-cylinder, four-horsepower air-cooled engine.

Priced as low as $250, the 'B' features an engine mounted on the right side next to the seat. Power is transmitted through a two-speed planetary gear to a sprocket on the right rear wheel. The headlamps are kerosene powered.

Transverse leaf springs absorb some of the bumps inherent in roads of the times, allowing a smoother ride when compared to many other buggies of the era. This model also features steel wheels as standard equipment, unlike some early offerings that utilized wooden wheels. A hard rubber layer on these wheels was a $25.00 option, giving consumers of the day a preview into what we would know as option packages on cars. The Success Model B truly represents the transition between the horseless carriage and the automobiles we know today.

After building some 600 vehicles, the Success Auto Company went out of business in 1909. Currently, just six of these vehicles are known to exist. This prime example also has the distinction of having been part of the famous Bill Harrah collection in years past.

by Dan Vaughan