1909 Locomobile Model 40

Locomobile was regarded as one of the finest cars of the period, made without concern for cost and to uncompromising standards of quality. The solid bronze crankcase was the company's most famous feature and exemplified the quality of its construction. Their reputation was built on using high-quality materials and the most advanced, intense, thorough production and manufacturing methods. According to the Locomobile Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, it was not possible to buy a finer car built in America.

Locomobile's Genesis was with steam cars built to designs created by the Stanley brothers. 'Cosmopolitan' magazine publisher Brisben Walker took over the fledgling Stanley Motor Carriage Company in 1899. Subsequent partnership with his neighbor Amzi Lorenzo Barber (an Asphalt paving magnate) soon fell apart, although both went on to build and sell practically identical cars whose design had originated with the Stanley Brothers. Only Walker's version, the Locomobile, would achieve success.

At the time, the small Locomobile carriages were the best-selling American automobile. As the industry shifted from steam over the years, Locomobile hired designer Andrew Riker to pen a new line of gasoline automobiles. Locomobile would produce several thousand steamers before discontinuing them in early 1904. The company's first Gasolene (spelling per Locomobile's literature) model was built at the newly constructed Bridgeport, Connecticut factory. Influenced by the European manufacturers of the day, Riker's designs featured the engines up front, transmission in the middle, and the drive at the rear wheels. This Panhard-inspired system was designed for performance.

Both two- and four-cylinder engines were initially offered, but quickly shedding the former and focusing solely on the four. It was a T-head unit with large, automatic inlet valves and sent power to the rear end via dual chain drive. The generous chassis carried the pressed steel bodies, with the entire structure suspended by leaf springs at all corners, and large 34-inch tires. Expanding brakes were fitted to the rear wheels, and a contracting brake was on the countershaft.

The Model 40
The 1908 Model 40 was the most powerful model offered to date. Its 472 cubic-inch T-head engine had a 5-inch bore, a 6-inch stroke and a single Updraft carburetor, developing approximately 60 horsepower. This was the top-of-the-range model from 1908 until 1911, which prices including bodywork that exceeded $4,700. The transmission was a four-speed sliding gear manual unit, the brakes were by rear-wheel cable-operated drums, and the suspension had a rigid front and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs.

Competition
Locomobile made bold declarations; 'Easily the Best Built Car in America.' They backed up this claim in 1908 with one of the greatest victories in racing when Gene Robertson drove the 90hp, 1,032 cubic inch Locomobile special 'No. 16' to victory in the internationally publicized Vanderbilt Cup race on Long Island. They beat all other contenders in speed and handling over the highways, roads, streets and lanes of rural Long Island.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2023