Stanley 20-HP Model F Touring Car
There is a steam boiler under the round ‘bonnet’ of this Stanley Steamer, as is evident from the many pipes and taps located underneath the boiler, which has around 900 fire tubes.
The two-cylinder, 20 hp engine is connected directly to the rear axle, and the mechanism is protected by a brass plate. The weakness in the design lies in the fact that the steam is not condensed and reused, but immediately released into the atmosphere. As a result, the 105-litre water tank can only hold sufficient water for a distance of 65 to 80 kilometres. The wheels have a diameter of 36 inches, enabling the car to attain high speeds. Note also the beautifully shaped glass in the headlights of this car. This elegant style of coachwork is called ‘Roi des Belges’. Stanley was the most famous steam car manufacturer and survived the longest, almost thirty years. In 1906 a racing model of the Stanley steam car, known as the ‘Beetle’, reached a top speed of 204 km/h
on Ormond Beach, near Daytona in Florida. This was the first car to
be designed with the use of a wind tunnel. The Stanley Steamers
were often faster than petrol cars, over short distances.