1865 Roper Steam Carriage
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Artifact Overview
This vehicle is the oldest surviving American automobile. In the 1860s, a small steam carriage running under its own power -- without horses! -- was so startling that people paid to see it driven. It was a curiosity, not transportation. By the time its inventor, Sylvester Roper, died in 1896, new innovators were transforming horseless carriages from curiosities into practical vehicles.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1865
Place of Creation
Location
at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America
Object ID
30.966.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of George R. Dana & Son.
Material
Wood (Plant material)
Metal
Leather
Technique
Handmade
Color
Black (Color)
Red
Yellow (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 58 in
Width: 63 in
Length: 100 in
Weight: 690 lbs
Specifications
Make & Model: 1865 Roper steam carriage
Maker: Sylvester Roper, Roxbury, Massachusetts
Engine: 2-cylinder steam, double acting, 3.75 inch bore x 10.00 inch stroke
Height: 58 inches
Wheelbase: 54.5 inches
Width: 63 inches
Overall length: 100 inches
Weight: 690 pounds
Horsepower: unknown
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