The Stanley Steam Car

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About Stanley Steamers
The Stanley Brothers began manufacturing the steam car in Newton, Massachusetts from 1898. Until the self-starting petrol car was introduced in 1914, steam-powered cars were in fact more popular than petrol cars. In 1919 a Stanley Steamer broke the world steam record by reaching a speed of 126 mph. Eventually, petrol engines became more advanced and easier to run, and steam cars simply went out of fashion. In 1924, the Stanley Brothers ceased prodcution; one year later, Henry Ford sold his 1 millionth petrol car.

The car in this video was built in 1919. It has a detachable hood, weighs two tons and is painted racing green. The steam car uses an internal boiler, heated by a petrol/diesel mix, to run a steam engine. The car sounds exactly like a steam train when it accelerates, before reaching the breakneck speeds of 30mph. Not very many Stanleys exist today.

Peter Coles
Peter Coles has been an engineer all his life, and takes a passionate interest in steam power. He drives scheduled steam trains in Poland as a hobby. At his Hertfordshire home he restored a whole traction engine, which he later sold for something a little less ungainly. He bought the Stanley steam car as a wreck and spent two years restoring it to full working order. He often takes the car to steam fairs and carnivals, and hires it out for weddings.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• documentary
• cars
• technology
• history
• engineering
• steam
• engine
• stanley
• Massachusetts
• Newton
• industry
• industrial