1902 Gasmobile Three-Cylinder Stanhope

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Hershey, Pennsylvania | October 10-11, 2019

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Before becoming Gasmobile, cars produced by the Automobile Company of America were called American. But that was just in 1899, and Gasmobile-branded cars of one, three, four, and six-cylinders were sold during various parts of 1900 through 1902.

1902 was when they really went wild with a diversified product lineup, which was part of the cause of their financial undoing. Four different body styles were offered on the three-cylinder chassis, including the $2,000 Stanhope. Power is from a nine horsepower inline-three.

This Gasmobile was formerly part of the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg museum. The restoration dates to the late 1970s, and it completed the London-to-Brighton run in 1983. It is now selling at no reserve with an estimate of $40,000-$50,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM in Hershey.

Update: Sold $56,100.

1900 Gasmobile Runabout

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Hershey, Pennsylvania | October 5-6, 2017

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

This Gasmobile is a great example of early American motoring. This car was built by the Automobile Company of America, which was founded in New York City in 1899 by John H. Flagler. The cars were marketed under the “American” brand name for 1899 and Flagler changed the name to Gasmobile for 1900 because it was “more descriptive.”

Cars built in 1899 and 1900 were identical except for the badging. The final cars were built in 1902 (which included a 35 horsepower six-cylinder car shown at the New York Auto Show). That six-cylinder car was a long way from this three horsepower, single-cylinder Runabout built only two years earlier.

This chassis was discovered in a warehouse in the 1950s and restored. No word on if the current restoration dates to the 1950s or not, but it looks quite nice, if a little dated. It’s something you could use (lightly) and show – and draw a crowd wherever you go. The Gasmobile was considered one of America’s finest early cars but the company folded anyway (Flagler moved on to the short-lived Panam car). This is one of only a few survivors and you can check out more about it here. Click here for more from this sale.

Update: Withdrawn.