Stanley Register Online - Vanderbilt Cup Racers 8 cars listed (possible overlap),  1 overseas
Home Last update:
7/8/08

These are replicas of the two cars that the Stanleys built for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races.
Those cars' performance was unsatisfactory and they did not compete in that race. 
        They are not known to survive.
The replicas, however, from all reports, give quite satisfactory performance.
It appears that there are 8 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.
At least three more were built by Robert J. Boudeman, using a Bryan tractor engine.

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, 2007
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:
(unknown if this car is VCR-1 or -2)
- - -
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
US, OH, 2007
previous owners
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:

chassis
1728

engine


model


body
racer
VCR_red2
image source - StanleySteamers.com
current owner
US, PA, 2007
previous owners

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

Sprague Register 1991 notes:

other notes:
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
chassis


engine


model


body
racer
VCR_black
image source - SACA Northeast
current owner
US, ME, 2007
previous owners
Robert J. Boudeman
horsepower:
boiler:
 
gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase: 
weight:
Sprague Register 1991 notes:
[not in 1991 Register]
other notes:
Built 1994 by Robert J. Boudeman.  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, , 2007
previous owners
Robert J. Boudeman
horsepower:
boiler:
 
gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase:
weight: 
Sprague Register 1991 notes:
[not in 1991 Register]
other notes:
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, 2007
previous owners
Robert J. Boudeman
horsepower:
boiler:
 
gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase:
weight:
Sprague Register 1991 notes:
[not in 1991 Register]
other notes:
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
VCR_red3
image source - HCCA classifieds
current owner
DE, 2008
Helmet Karbe
previous owners
Michigan, 2007
horsepower:
boiler:
 
gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase:
weight:
Sprague Register 1991 notes:
[not in 1991 Register]
other notes:
Built 2004-2007.

chassis


engine


model


body
racer
VCR_RHD
image source - Steam Car Club of Great Britain
current owner
GB, 2007
previous owners

horsepower: 20
boiler:

gear ratio: 
tires: 
wheelbase:
weight:
Sprague Register 1991 notes:
[not in 1991 Register]
other notes:
Built 2006.  Right-hand drive.
GB reg. BF 4183

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


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.

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