Michael C Wauhop Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 I was just wondering when was the last time a Doble steam car was for sale and how much did it sell for. I was looking at Jay Lenos car on youtube and a friend asked me how much would somthing like that sell for-I have no idea the only time I saw a Doble for sale was at Hershey about 35 years ago-I remember they were asking 18K for it. of course toady it would go for much much more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 A sorted and running sedan, restored for show........350-450 . Leno has a disappearing top Murphy and it's the only one as well as a late model, I would guess 850-1.2 They are a great car, but not for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Any of the last cars with a good looking body could bring crazy money. That Murphy might surprise you how high it would go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 I have had a chance to go over Leno's Murphy about twenty years ago. Very neat and complicated machine. I would put it in the Marmon V-16 Conv Coupe. It was at the Neathercutt Collection at the time. I still haven't had a ride in one, never mind driving one. It is on my bucket list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 I can guarantee this would bring over 7 figures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozstatman Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 (edited) Speaking of Leno's Doble, it was "spotted" in the infamous 2005 Trump video! Here's a link to the Facebook post it's in - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=352460328421818&set=gm.10154674896874973&type=3 Edited October 20, 2016 by Ozstatman (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 Yes AJ I agree, that is an easy seven figure car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus Tremaine Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 I have some old photos of that doble. I know who owns it now and am saving up a few other pics for him as well before I send them down. It used to participate alot in the old car events in the 50s-60s. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 Awesome!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalowed Bill Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 Can anyone verify the present ownership of the two cars that Dean Spencer owned, until his passing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 Great photos! Keep,them coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozierman Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 Actually, Dean Spencer owned three Dobles back in the 1970's. He had a coupe, a roadster and a touring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. Ballard 35R Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Jay Leno I think still owns two Dobles the E-20 Howard Hughes roadster being one that Dick Hempel owned for many years. I have correspondence dated December, 1967 from Hempel to my father wanting to trade the Doble for a car owned by my father. Hempel claimed that his roadster was the only original Doble roadster and that the two others were conversions from coupes. By the way, if you watch Leno's video you can "read between the lines" and learn what he had to do to the car which had already been restored. Not sure about the Spencer Dobles but Barney Becker had one on the '67 Glidden. Who has the 1924 touring that Clarence Marshall used to own? Aren't there only about seven surviving Dobles out of perhaps 24 made? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 How did they drive? How long from fire up to moving down the road? Has anyone here driven one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F&J Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 6 minutes ago, Restorer32 said: How did they drive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Interesting video but how did they REALLY drive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 1 hour ago, Restorer32 said: Interesting video but how did they REALLY drive? Probably like a Model J -> a steam powered truck! That is a great video. I like the hubcaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F&J Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 (edited) 34 minutes ago, alsancle said: Probably like a Model J -> a steam powered truck! If you mess with building cars like I do, you study the movements of the body and suspension, to get a feel of how it rides, and the weights. I've only talked with one steam car owner, but the first thing he said was the feel of the instant gut wrenching torque, as soon as it begins to move Edited October 21, 2016 by F&J (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 4 hours ago, Restorer32 said: How did they drive? How long from fire up to moving down the road? Has anyone here driven one? I've never driven one, but the Doble was the absolute best iteration of a steam car built. "Fire up to moving down the road" was not very much time at all. Less than 3 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 0-40 in 8 seconds is awfully fast for the era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. Ballard 35R Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Great article about an incredible car. I think the Doble is one of the most sophisticated American production cars ever made. Just my opinion and not intended to start a lengthy discussion/argument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruffsup Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Last time I visited the Donnington collection in England ( primarily race cars) they had 2 Dobles there. Can't recall the details . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleach Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 What's interesting to me is that this 1924 Doble could easily pass as a 1934. The body style looks really modern for the 20's. Was it rebodied? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 22 minutes ago, Bleach said: What's interesting to me is that this 1924 Doble could easily pass as a 1934. The body style looks really modern for the 20's. Was it rebodied? I think it was but do not know the exact story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 The article seems to imply that it was extensively refitted in 1929, likely to include restyled fenders at the very least.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleach Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 I did a little more reading about this car and it was rebodied in 1929 by Walter Murphy Co of Pasadena. It was originally a 7 passenger phaeton on a 142 wheelbase. That's why it looks more contemporary. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleach Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 This car probably originally looked like this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_in_nh Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 (edited) In the Doble Steam Cars book by J.N. Walton: there is a section on driver's comments. Attached are the first three pages of that section. 2,000 lbs / ft of torque at crankshaft on Doble E-19. No wonder steam was (and still is) king... Edited October 22, 2016 by tom_in_nh Images in wrong order. (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Santos Posted May 2, 2019 Share Posted May 2, 2019 On 10/20/2016 at 8:37 AM, Linus Tremaine said: I have some old photos of that doble. I know who owns it now and am saving up a few other pics for him as well before I send them down. It used to participate alot in the old car events in the 50s-60s. The top photo is in the late 50's. Barney Becker's 24 E14. My Dad's 22 Olds. in front. The Doble is now owned by Stan Lucus, of Lucus Classic Tire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather (Hempel) Wilson Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 On 10/21/2016 at 5:15 AM, Restorer32 said: Interesting video but how did they REALLY drive? I'm Heather (Hempel) Wilson. I spent my entire childhood up until I was a young mother, with the Hughes Doble. My father, Dick Hempel restored it. We used it regularly and went on HCCA tour several times a year. From my spot in the rumble seat, it was a pretty smooth ride. It could get cold in the Idaho mountains, but the boiler bumped out just enough into the floor area that I could sleep on its carpeted top. It was a lot of fun. I'm sure Dad would be proud of Jay Leno owning looking several of the cars he restored. I'm also certain they would be friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve9 Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 On 10/20/2016 at 4:11 PM, Lozierman said: Actually, Dean Spencer owned three Dobles back in the 1970's. He had a coupe, a roadster and a touring. Here they are in Dean’s shop not long after his passing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 Does anyone know where the 3 window coupe is? I would love to get my hands on that. Realizing the Murphy car would bring Murphy Model J money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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