If you’ve never heard of Abner Doble you’re not alone. Certain names stand out among great engineers of the last century: Marc Birkigt, Ettore Bugatti, Ferdinand Porsche, WO Bentley, to name a few. Born in the last decade of the 1800s to a wealthy, mechanically minded family, Doble grew up in the age of steam and was determined to make a better steam-powered car, but by the time he’d finished his masterpiece the world had moved on.
In the early days the steam car had an advantage over internal combustion. First of all, it was a known commodity – steam had powered everything from ships to factories. It was also easier to deal with than a gas car. With a steam car you went out to the barn, lit the pilot, waited for the vaporiser to get hot and heat up the boiler and you were ready to go. Really no different than heating the kettle on the stove.
Don’t forget, with early gas cars there was no self-starter; you had to set the choke, retard the timing, adjust the carburettor, then violently swing that starter handle, which could kick back and easily break your arm. Also, the noise of the internal combustion engine would frighten the horses and raise the ire of neighbours, not to mention magistrates.
Denne historien er fra 250 - April 2024-utgaven av Octane.
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Denne historien er fra 250 - April 2024-utgaven av Octane.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.
Jem Marsh
The hard-bitten Marcos boss was driven like few others and never knew when he was beaten. Thankfully
Vandamm House
A Mid-Century Modernist masterpiece that was immortalised on celluloid - despite never actually existing
Making light
Alfa Romeo's post-war renaissance began with the 1900 saloon - and matured with Zagato's featherweight coupé version, as Jay Harvey discovers
FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
Is burgeoning classic car interest in the Middle East good for the global classic market? Nathan Chadwick investigates
Before the beginning
This rare Amazon Green pre-production Range Rover is Velar chassis number 4. James Elliott charts its historically revealing factory restoration
Ben Cussons
As the outgoing chairman of the Royal Automobile Club hands on to his successor, Robert Coucher quizzes him about the evolution of this great British institution
BULLDOG & THE PUPPIES
We gather five motoring masterpieces by avant-garde designer William Towns - and drive all of them
Below the tip of the Audrain iceberg
As the Audrain organisation grows, we take a look behind the scenes at the huge car collection that feeds it
Flying the Scottish flag
Young Ecurie Ecosse driver Chloe Grant gets to grips with the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type at Goodwood. Matthew Hayward is Octane's witness