Hi Ben:
I certainly agree with what you've said but don't knock the Stanley. Many
Stanleys were raced and campaigned for years. Check the Land Speed Record
attempts prior to WWI. You'll find that Stanleys were very fast cars. An
official record was set at Daytona about 1906 or 128 mph and the following
year a car reached at least 150 mph but was destroyed when it flipped. In
1909, a "Gentleman's Stanley" could cruise at 60 mph. The steamer was
killed by the self-starter which was introduced by Cadillac in 1913 but
steam car production continued in the US until the early '30s. Doble
produced very high-quality steamers which were expensive and intended for
the traditional owner.
John McEwen
>>Which car company invented the "Sports-Car"? I always
>>assumed Cecil Kimber started it all with Old Number One.
>
>Here's something to make a nice, drawn out, messy flame ridden thread. Let
>me start it. =)
>
>>From what I have seen and read, most of the people who built the "first"
>cars built them for speed, handling, and endurance. So, I think that most
>of the early cars could be considered "sports cars". Remember, the first
>true test of the cars were their performance on the track, not how well
>they ferried passengers about.
>
>The rift between sports cars and "other cars" (eg: Tourers, Saloons,
>coupes) began when the affluent began purchasing cars to replace horse
>drawn carraiges. These were the first cars that differed from the "sports"
>cars because of creature comforts - a roof, leather interior, etc. This
>started the division between luxury cars and sports cars. (who would race a
>stanley steamer??? =)
>
>So, to answer your question, whoever started racing their cars first! =)
>
>
>
>BEN RUSET - mailto:bruset@monmouth.com
>
>See, think, and judge for yourself;
>Do not let society do these things for you.
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