1901 Mobile

Lex, Irénée & Barbara du Pont in Mobile, circa 1945-1948

1902 Stanley Stick-Seat Runabout

Want to see our founder talk about the 1901 Mobile? Check out this video from the official Marshall Steam Museum YouTube channel!

Tom Marshall: 1901 Mobile

General History

In 1899, the Stanley brothers sold their fledgling business and steam car patent to John B. Walker and Amzi L. Barber, but the latter partnership immediately fell apart. Both manufactured vehicles of Stanley design, with Barber launching the Locomobile Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Walker starting the Mobile Company of America in Tarrytown, New York.  In 1902, the Stanley brothers founded the Stanley Motor Carriage Company after having reinvented their own version of a steam car, since they no longer owned the rights to their original patent. Mobile’s manufacturing ended just a few years later, about the same time Locomobile switched to building high-quality gas cars. 

Our Model’s History

Purchased new in 1901 by the Hodgetts family, this Mobile received an aftermarket modification in 1903 that lengthened its wheelbase, added a front seat, and changed the steering from the center to the side. Soon after, Edwin Hodgetts drove with three passengers from Wallingford, Connecticut, to Atlantic City, New Jersey, and back—an astonishing feat for such a delicate machine on the roads of that era.

Alexis I. du Pont purchased the car from Edwin Hodgetts in 1945. He made it operational and gave it a quick cosmetic restoration. After 60 years of care, du Pont sold the car to the Friends of Auburn Heights, which became only the third owner. It is the oldest car in the collection and remains the only one that uses the chain drive of the Stanley company’s earliest design.

Specifications

Capacity: 2/4 passengers
Engine: 4.5 horsepower
Weight: 900 pounds
Wheelbase: 65 inches
Cost: $650 inches
in 1901;
today's equivalent: 17,000

Comparison Chart

ModelCar TypePassenger CapacityEngine (Horsepower for Steam & Gas, Volts for Electric)Weight (Pounds)Wheelbase (Inches)Original Cost (Year Released)Today's Equivalent Cost (in 2015)
1901 Mobile
Steam
4
4.5
900
65
1901
17000
1902 Stanley Stick-Seat Runabout
Steam
4
6
900
70
1902
18108
1905 Stanley Runabout Model CX
Steam
4
8
1000
78
1905
16900
1907 Stanley Semi-Racer Model K
Steam
3
30
1850
108
1907
47368
1908 Stanley Gentleman’s Speedy Roadster H-5
Steam
2
20
1350
100
1908
35526
1908 Stanley Model EX
Steam
4
10
1200
90
1908
20400
1910 Stanley Touring Model 71
Steam
4
20
2200
115
1910
35000
1912 Stanley Touring Model 87
Steam
7
30
4200
134
1912
57100
1913 Stanley Roadster Model 78
Steam
2
20
2500
115
1913
36700
1913 Stanley Touring Model 76
Steam
5
20
2800
120
1913
38000
1914 Ford Model T
Gas
5
20
1200
100
1914
12000
1914 Stanley Model 607
Steam
4
10
2200
112
1914
34414
1915 Stanley Mountain Wagon Model 820
Steam
15
30
5000
136
1915
54635
1916 Rauch and Lang Electric Brougham
Electric
5
90
3500
92
1916
60967
1916 Stanley Touring Model 725
Steam
5
20
3400
130
1916
43004
1918 Stanley Touring Model 735
Steam
7
20
3850
130
1918
40866
1922 Stanley Touring Model 740
Steam
7
20
4200
130
1922
40866
1924 Stanley Model 750
Steam
7
20
4200
130
1924
36086
1932 Packard Phaeton Model 905
Gas
4
160
5450
142
1932
82288
1937 Packard Model 1508
Gas
7
175
6000
144
1937
74168