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European car circa 1900


alextheantiqueautoguy

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A friend, who is a published automobile researcher in Russia and Europe, has been trying to identify this auto. Most likely, it is European but there's still a chance that someone posting on this forum can identify it.

Some US makers would call this a double phaeton. 12-spoke wheels front and back, RHD unless the photo has been reversed, single light. I don't think it is electric but... somebody knows more than I do. Thanks!

330535550_935529267622237_168535284887461835_n.jpg

Edited by alextheantiqueautoguy
left-right discrimination issues on my part (see edit history)
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I am going out on a limb, here.  I believe it is American, not European.  It is gas powered  not electric.  As to whether the picture is reversed, you tell me.  The wheels are 12 spoke, front and rear, similar to a Knox of about 1905.  Anyone else have any thoughts?

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Definitely American: engine below the front seats, where the flywheel is just visible below the frame and also visible on the side the hole for the crank handle below the short side lever. The surrey body points at American origin as well, though it is a very short one: the rear passenger will undoubtedly suffer from knee problems! To give the car a name is a different story. For me it is unknown and therefore the well known needle in the haystack ...

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On 2/17/2023 at 7:41 PM, dictator27 said:

I am going out on a limb, here.  I believe it is American, not European.  It is gas powered  not electric.  As to whether the picture is reversed, you tell me.  The wheels are 12 spoke, front and rear, similar to a Knox of about 1905.  Anyone else have any thoughts?

I had thought about Knox at one time. I am not a Knox specialist but almost all of the photos I saw of Knox show them as left-hand-drive so I discounted them as a possibility. Also, the Knox bodywork is of a lot higher quality than this thing, with it's obtuse but angled front.

Electric? You may be on to something!

Edited by alextheantiqueautoguy
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4 hours ago, Ariejan NL said:

Definitely American: engine below the front seats, where the flywheel is just visible below the frame and also visible on the side the hole for the crank handle below the short side lever. The surrey body points at American origin as well, though it is a very short one: the rear passenger will undoubtedly suffer from knee problems! To give the car a name is a different story. For me it is unknown and therefore the well known needle in the haystack ...

With no radiator visible, do you think it's electric?

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  • 2 weeks later...

The idea of having a car in the family dining room and keeping it in the family for over a hundred years makes an antique car fan smile.


But I don't think this is an Olds of the 1908 vintage. That year Olds had three rather large touring cars, the models M, X and Z, along with a Flying Roadster.


If I fantasize, I would hope this family had one of Ransom Olds' pre-1900 cars... but it's likely not.

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