Steam cars actually pre-date gasoline cars.
In 1769 a Frenchman named Josef Cugnot developed what is considered to be the world's first "car" - a three-wheeled steam tractor with an enormous boiler hanging out in front of the solitary front wheel.
In the 19th century there were steam "road trains," traction engines, buses, and a few cars prior to the advent of the gasoline-powered and electric-powered car.
In 1896, a Frenchman named Leon Serpollet invented and perfected the flash boiler, which made steam a much more practical source of power for an automobile. Though Serpollet was not a major figure after this, he did produce his own automobiles under the name Serpollet and Gardner-Serpollet until his death in 1907.
From 1896 until the mid-1920's there were many steam-powered makes, including the most famous - Locomobile and Stanley Steamer in the United States.
But the Steam car became impractical as petrol-powered cars became more precise and more reliable. To light and stoke a fire to keep the steam up was neither safe nor practical in light of the simpler operation of petrol cars, so most of the Steamers gradually faded away.
But there was one last gasp for the Steam car - the mighty Doble.
Considered by many to be the fastest, most stylish, and most practical steam car ever made - Abner Doble's car could rival the Duesenberg or the Bentley 8-liter for speed and power - and price and opulence.
For those who were still interested, it was the final production steam car - though it was essentially a hand-built machine for the rich. The Doble was felled by a decline in interest and by the Great Depression, which claimed almost all of the boutique producers in the US - including much larger companies like Pierce-Arrow, Duesenberg, DuPont, and Stutz.
In 1769 a Frenchman named Josef Cugnot developed what is considered to be the world's first "car" - a three-wheeled steam tractor with an enormous boiler hanging out in front of the solitary front wheel.
In the 19th century there were steam "road trains," traction engines, buses, and a few cars prior to the advent of the gasoline-powered and electric-powered car.
In 1896, a Frenchman named Leon Serpollet invented and perfected the flash boiler, which made steam a much more practical source of power for an automobile. Though Serpollet was not a major figure after this, he did produce his own automobiles under the name Serpollet and Gardner-Serpollet until his death in 1907.
From 1896 until the mid-1920's there were many steam-powered makes, including the most famous - Locomobile and Stanley Steamer in the United States.
But the Steam car became impractical as petrol-powered cars became more precise and more reliable. To light and stoke a fire to keep the steam up was neither safe nor practical in light of the simpler operation of petrol cars, so most of the Steamers gradually faded away.
But there was one last gasp for the Steam car - the mighty Doble.
Considered by many to be the fastest, most stylish, and most practical steam car ever made - Abner Doble's car could rival the Duesenberg or the Bentley 8-liter for speed and power - and price and opulence.
For those who were still interested, it was the final production steam car - though it was essentially a hand-built machine for the rich. The Doble was felled by a decline in interest and by the Great Depression, which claimed almost all of the boutique producers in the US - including much larger companies like Pierce-Arrow, Duesenberg, DuPont, and Stutz.
