1900? Car Identification Help

[Guest Zombiehordes]

Can someone please let me know what the car in this photo is. (Make and model.) The man in the pic is my great great grandfather Willliam H. Bates a rancher in Colorado. He died in 1911 and my grandmother always said that he had owned the first car in Colorado. I have been trying to do a little family research and just thought it would be interesting to know more about the car too.

Thanks for your help.

[Guest Jim_Edwards]

If it weren't for the tiller instead of a steering wheel it bears a remarkable similarity to a 1903-1904 Renault type N.

[nzcarnerd]

Also seen in the 'what is it' thread. A 1903 Autocar.

[oldcarfudd]

Autocar? Left-hand drive with tiller steering was unusual.

Gil Fitzhugh, Morristown, NJ

[MochetVelo]

I like the foot-operated horn.

[Guest cben09]

Early,,, Autocar used the coffee grinder steering,,would account for the short hood also,,,Ben

[Guest Zombiehordes]

Thanks guys, I believe your right about the autocar. I found this pic after reading the reply.

[1937hd45]

AUTOCAR offered them both ways coffee gringer or steering wheel. The steering wheel has the spark and throttle designed into motorcycle type grips in the wheel. Can't quite understand how you could turn and not increse your speed with this setup. Price new FOB Ardmore, Pa was $1,700 in 1904. the car in the OP photo is earlier, note the scoop cutout on the seat end. Also, the wheels on the AUTOCAR were hollow steel NOT wood. It has been a while since I saw one, think they are a two piece stamping and brazed together on both sides of the spoke. Labor entisive to build. GREAT car, I lost out on one in 1989 and still miss not getting it. :)Just noticed the color photo above the Renault type and conventional radiator style were both offered in 1904, not sure if the option was offered on both runabout and touring.

Autocar? Left-hand drive with tiller steering was unusual.

Gil Fitzhugh, Morristown, NJ

Edited December 12, 2010 by 1937hd45 (see edit history)

[Shop Rat]

One thing I noticed that didn't match on the Renault, that does match on the Autocar, is the upper corner of the front seat. On the photo of the car in question it has a cut back profile. On the Renault it is rounded at the corner. The Autocar has the same cut back on the corner.

[Guest Silverghost]

l believe the old Autocar showrooms are still standing today in Ardmore PA ! The factory itself burned in the mid 1950s .

At least the factory showrooms were still there about three years ago when I was last driving in that area !

Autocar was started in 1899 in Ardmore PA.

The very last auto was built in 1912

The truck-building operation started in 1907~

This same Autocar company later switched to only building large commercial trucks we all know today!

Do a Wikipedia web search on Autocar history~ It is very interesting indeed !

Edited December 13, 2010 by Silverghost (see edit history)