Engine – 471 Cubic Inch (7.7 Liter) T-Head Four-Cylinder
Transmission – 4-Speed Manual Transaxle
Drivetrain – Double Chain Drive
Horsepower – 40 HP
Wheelbase – 123 inches
Production – Undocumented; two Type I examples known to survive, this being the only known seven-passenger Type I Touring.

“The Best-Built Car in America”

The Locomobile Company of America was established in 1899, emerging from the acquisition of the Stanley twins’ steam automobile enterprise by John Brisben Walker, publisher of Cosmopolitan, and Amzi Lorenzo Barber, an asphalt contractor. At the turn of the century, when automotive technology itself remained unsettled, Locomobile entered the market as a committed producer of steam-powered automobiles. The partnership between Walker and Barber was short-lived, however, as disagreements between the two principals led to an early split, with Barber retaining the original Locomobile name. At the same time, Walker continued production of the same vehicle under the “Mobile” marque.
Relocated to Bridgeport, Connecticut, Locomobile soon began to reassess its technical direction. Competitive pressures—particularly following the establishment of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company by the aforementioned Stanley twins—prompted a decisive strategic shift for Locomobile. In 1902, Locomobile merged with the Overman Automobile Company and clandestinely engaged Andrew Lawrence Riker to develop internal combustion engines, an effort undertaken discreetly to avoid alienating potential steam customers. Out of the two engines developed, the resulting T-head four-cylinder configuration proved markedly more reliable than steam power, and by early 1904, Locomobile transitioned exclusively to gasoline-powered automobiles.
During its formative years, Locomobile also established itself as a distinctly formidable presence against acclaimed European marques in international competition, participating in events such as the Gordon Bennett races in France and the Vanderbilt Cup in the United States. At a time when European manufacturers dominated the racing sphere, Locomobile achieved significant acclaim in 1908, when George Robertson piloted the company’s entry, known as “Old 16”, to victory in the Vanderbilt Cup. While additional racing successes followed later that year, the company’s leadership deemed the races to be an adequate display of engineering excellence, and by the close of 1908, Locomobile withdrew from racing altogether. By 1909, the company had committed itself to a singular objective: to produce precision-assembled passenger automobiles that emphasized craftsmanship and precision engineering.
This Locomobile Type I Touring was displayed at the 1910 Chicago Automobile Show, where it was purchased new by J. Erwin Smith, President of the Continental National Bank of Indianapolis, establishing its provenance of importance from the moment it left Locomobile. This example, the third Type I ever built, is the earliest surviving Type I Locomobile. Research suggests that this is one of two extant Type I’s and the only seven-passenger Type I Touring Car in existence today.
The car has maintained continuous ownership provenance since new and has been carefully stewarded by several notable custodians, including Dr. Sam Scher, Richard Paine, and Otis Chandler. Each owner approached the car with exceptional restraint and a clear commitment to preservation. Restrained and tasteful restoration was undertaken when appropriate; cosmetic work was performed in the late 1950s by Dr. Scher, who commissioned Wilkinson & Sharp, early pioneers in the emerging field of professional automotive restoration. Despite this intervention, the car remains a highly original example and is the only known Type I to retain its original body, fenders, hood, radiator, floors, running boards, chassis, and major components.
The Type I is powered by a 471 cubic-inch T-head four-cylinder engine rated at 40 horsepower and paired with a four-speed manual transaxle. Showing approximately 10,000 miles from new, this Locomobile stands as an exceptional example of long-term commitment to authenticity and attentive stewardship, embodying the philosophy that led the company to be regarded—by reputation and execution—as “the best built car in America.”