Stanley 20-hp Model F Touring Car

Under the round "hood" of this Stanley Steamer is the steam boiler.

Under the round "hood" of this Stanley Steamer is the steam boiler. You can also see it from the many pipes and valves under the boiler, which contains around 900 small fire tubes. The two cylinder 20 hp engine is directly connected to the rear axle and the construction is enclosed with a copper plate. The weak point of the design is the fact that the steam is not condensed back into water and therefore not reused. The steam is released straight into the atmosphere. As a result, the 105 liter capacity of the water tank is only enough for a distance of between 65 and 80 kilometers. The wheels have a diameter of 36 inches and are intended to achieve high speeds. Also note the beautifully cut headlamp lenses of this car. The elegant bodywork is called "Roi des Belges". Stanley is the best known brand among the manufacturers of steam cars. It also existed the longest: almost thirty years. In 1906 a racing version of the Stanley steam car, the "Beetle", reached a top speed of 204 km/h on the beach at Ormond near Daytona in Florida. This racer was the first car whose shape was developed with the help of a wind tunnel. Over short distances the Stanley Steamers were often faster than gasoline cars.