1907 Orient Buckboard

The Waltham Orient Buckboard was a minimalistic vehicle that weighed 400 pounds and could travel at 30 mph. The only suspension was the flexing of the slats that made up its chassis. At all four corners were all-white pneumatic tires. These tiller-steered automobiles were priced at under $400 and would remain in production through 1907.

Powering the Orient Buckboard was Waltham's own air-cooled engine offering four horsepower. A wide range of speeds was available thanks to the friction drive, and power was sent to the wheels by chain drive.

Along with the Buckboard, the company offered a companion model called the Surrey. It was basically a tandem Runabout, with the driver and front-seat passenger positioned farther forward than the Runabout, overhanging the front axle. It weighed 600 pounds and used the same four-horsepower two-stroke engine. The suspension was comprised of full-elliptic leaf springs. Total Surrey production reached 1,020 examples.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2020