62 



BULLETIN 119, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



radiator is attached to the under side of the carriage body above the 

 motor. The water tank is located below the rear seat of the carriage, 

 while the gasoline tank is placed parallel to the motor, but beneath it. 



Cat. No. 286,567 U.S.N.M. 



Gasoline Automobile, 1901. Gift of The Autocar Company. 



This motor car was designed and constructed by Louis S. Clarke, 

 vice president and consulting engineer of The Autocar Co., in Ard- 

 more, Pa., between September, 1901, and December of that year, and 

 is believed to be the earliest motor vehicle equipped with shaft drive. 

 It was first exhibited at the automobile show held in Madison Square 

 Garden, New York City, December 11, 1901, having been driven 



-SHAFT DRIVEN AU TOCAR, 1901. 



there under its own power from Ardmore, Pa., a distance of over 

 90 miles, in 6 hours and 15 minutes. The car was run by Mr. Clarke, 

 exactly as built and as it now is, for over three years and covered 

 a total of at least 5,000 miles. 



The gasoline engine is of the opposed type, having two water- 

 cooled cjdinders each of 3f inches bore and 4-inch stroke, and equip- 

 ped with automatic inlet valves. The transmission is of the selec- 

 tive type, having two forward speeds and reverse. The power is 

 delivered to the rear wheels through a shaft coupled by two uni- 

 versal joints. Lubrication is effected from a dashboard sight-feed 

 oiler. The frame is made of wood and reinforcing steel and is sup- 

 ported on the axles by four full elliptical springs. This car has a 

 seating capacity for four persons, the two tonneau seats being en- 

 tered from the rear. The wheel base is 66^ inches and the tread 56 

 inches. Cat. No. 307.257 U.S.N.M. 



