Stanley Register Online - Vanderbilt Cup Racers 11 cars listed,  3 outside US
Home Last update:
6/30/14

These cars are inspired by the two specials that the Stanleys built compete in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
They were ordered by 2 Philadelphia amateurs, with the specification that they do one mile in 30 seconds.
Those cars' initial performance was unsatisfactory and they did not compete in that race, although they later had success in other races. 
        Neither is not known to survive.
These replicas, from all reports, give quite satisfactory performance.
There are now at least 11 of these cars in existence. 
The first two were built by Carl S. Amsley, and appear in the 1991 Sprague Register as "1908" cars,
        with chassis numbers VCR-1 and VCR-2.
The next three were built by Robert J. Boudeman and Win Howard, 2 of which used Bryan tractor engines.
Bodies and frames to construct these cars,
aesthetically patterned after the Boudeman/Howard cars but designed to accept the original Stanley engine and suspension,
        are available at Midwest Coach & Carriage Works.

In owners column:
    Current owner is identified by 2-letter country & state
    Date to left of name is purchase date, to right of name is known ownership date
chassis
VCR-1

engine


model


body
racer

image source - "My Classic Car", episode 10020
current owner
US, CA, 2012
Jay Leno
previous owners
Robert J. Boudeman
Carl Amsley
horsepower:  20
boiler:
  29"x16"
gear ratio:  58-60
tires:  875 x 105
wheelbase:  106
weight:

Sprague Register 1991 notes:
Wire wheels, 20 hp engine; 1278 tubes in boiler.
other notes:
Boudeman commissioned Amsley to build this car.  Recently fitted with newly built 30" burner and newly-designed baffles.
- - -
1990 Int'l Steam Car Tour, Orillia, Ont.
1991 Steam Car Tour, Charlottesville
chassis
VCR-2

engine


model


body
racer
VCR_red1
image source - StanleySteamers.com
current owner
1914, US, CA
Allan Blazick
previous owners
Phil Lewis
Carl Amsley
horsepower:  20
boiler:
  29"x16"
gear ratio:  58-60
tires:  875 x 105
wheelbase:  106
weight:

Sprague Register 1991 notes:
Wire wheels, 20 hp engine; 1278 tubes in boiler.

other notes:
Amsley built this one at the same time as the Boudeman commission.
chassis
VCR-3

engine


model


body
racer

current owner
US, PA, 2011
Willis Abel
previous owners

horsepower:  
boiler:
  
gear ratio:  
tires:  
wheelbase:  
weight:

Built by Daryl Kendall.

chassis
1728

engine


model


body
racer
VCR_red2
image source - Wikimedia Commons
current owner
US, PA, 2014
previous owners

horsepower: 30
boiler:
  30"x18"
gear ratio:  48-54
tires: 
wheelbase: 
weight: 

Built by owner to scaled drawings taken from original photographs.
- - -
2002 SACA Meet, Danville
2003 Ormond Beach
2004 Ormond Beach
2007 Steam Car Tour, Wilmington, DE
2009 Newport Hill Climb
2011 AACA Fall Meet, Hershey
chassis


engine


model


body
racer
VCR_black
image source - SACA Northeast
current owner
US, ME, 2012
previous owners
Robert J. Boudeman
horsepower:
boiler:
 
gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase: 
weight:
Built 1994 by Robert J. Boudeman, some time after his receipt of the Amsley commission.  Footage of this car in action can be found here.
- - -
1997 Dead Horse Hill Climb
chassis


engine


model


body
racer
VCR_grey
image source - Birthplace of Speed
current owner
US, ME, 2011
previous owners
Robert J. Boudeman
horsepower:
boiler:
 
gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase:
weight: 
Built 2000.  Bryan engine, independent rear suspension, inboard disk brakes.
- - -
1999 Goodwood Festival of Speed
2001 SACA Meet, Danville
2002 Steam Car Tour, Charlottesville
2003 Ormond Beach
2004 Ormond Beach
2004 SACA Meet, Berrien Springs
2005 Newport Antique Hill Climb
2006 Ormond Beach
chassis


engine


model


body
racer
VCR_green
image source - unknown
current owner
US, MI, 2011
previous owners

horsepower:
boiler:
 
gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase:
weight:
Built 2000. Bryan engine, independent rear suspension, inboard disk brakes.
- - -
2001 Steam Car Tour, Block Island
2002 Steam Car Tour, Charlottesville
2003 Ormond Beach
2006 Ormond Beach
chassis


engine


model


body
racer


current owner
US, MN, 2011
Robert J. Boudeman
previous owners

horsepower:
boiler:
 
gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase:
weight: 
Unfinished.  Bryan engine, independent rear suspension, inboard disk brakes.

chassis


engine


model


body
racer
VCR_red3
image source - HCCA classifieds
current owner
2008, DE, 2012
Helmut Karbe
previous owners
Al Rohrstaff, 2007
horsepower: 30
boiler:
 
gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase:
weight:
10-year construction project by Rohrstaff, finished in 2007.  Originally 20hp Stanley engine, now 30hp Goold/Stanley.  Video of a drive in this car is here.

chassis


engine


model


body
racer
VCR_RHD
image source - Steam Car Club of Great Britain
current owner
GB, 2012
previous owners

horsepower: 
boiler:

gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase:
weight:
Built 2002-2006.  Bolsover boiler, right-hand drive.
GB reg. BF 4183
chassis


engine


model


body
racer
VCR_JohnstonEngland
image source - Midwest Coach and Carriage
current owner
GB, 2012
previous owners

horsepower: 
boiler:

gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase:
weight:
Completed in 2014.  Body by Mark Johnston of Midwest Coach & CarriageWorks.

A couple of bonus Vanderbilt Cup pictures

I had to include these pictures because I just love them.

Here's Jay firing up.  And up, and up.  From "My Classic Car", episode 10020.
JayFiringUp
(Good Stanley operators know that it doesn't have to be this way.)

Here's an excellent picture from The Steam Automobile Bulletin, Oct-Dec 2003, showing the layout
of the works and the reason for that delightfully long hood.  Weight distribution is reportedly superb.
VCR_layout


And here's the one that started the whole idea.  A wonderful picture of a youthful Fred Marriott at the wheel.
VCR_Fred
Image and text from The Antique Automobile, March-April, 1968.

Home

Stanley Steamer steam car