This is one of the best performing and most reliable Whites in operation. This fine example of the Model O-O was imported to the UK from the USA in the late 1990s and has been in the same family for 24 years.
The overall condition and presentation of the car is excellent and displays a perfect element of patina. Although the body is said to be not original, it is nevertheless beautifully crafted and correct for the period. The dark bottle green paintwork is complemented by sumptuous black leather trimmed seating in excellent condition. The front of the car carries two large brass acetylene headlamps, while the sides are embellished by a pair of delicate brass carriage lamps.
Chassis No: 8956
15 HP
Registration No: SV 7227
Engine No: 59400
VCC Dating Cert No: 2241
It is powered by a two cylinder pistol valve (Joy Type) compound vertical engine and fed by the unique (to White) water tube steam generator (mono tube) producing superheated steam at a pressure of 600psi. It is fuelled by petrol. Water is fed to the boiler by a feed pump flow motor. It does not have a conventional steam engine boiler. This example is highly respected in the steam car world, being the desirable O-O type.
It is offered for sale from the estate of the late John Thomson, who purchased it from his late brother Arthur Thomson. Both brothers rallied the car across the UK and Europe. The White is recorded on the US White Register as being first known to them in 1978 when it was owned by Tom Grant, then passing to Willis Smith in 1988, followed by Fran Duvenick a decade later after which it arrived in the UK, owned first by Brian Chessell in 1999 and latterly Mr Thomson.
This White has had significant restoration in recent years. Major works carried out for the period 2008-2016 include the following:
Complete engine rebuild including new crankshaft, con-rods, valve gear, re-bore, new pistons, piston rings, piston valves and rings; replace both rear hubs, prop-shaft, re-temper and reset rear springs; replace drive pulley to fan; modify pump and fuel valve seals to ‘O’ rings; replace super-heater grid; replace kingpin bushes; replace thermostat housing; replace throttle valve; new water tank.
During this period the car was kept operational by Arthur Thomson and, knowing the car so well, he was able to drive around any problems that he may have encountered. However, when his brother John bought the car in 2020 he wanted it to be perfect so he sent it for extensive restoration work from a world-renowned engineer specialising in steam-powered engines. Major works carried out included the following:
Full engine rebuild with billet crank and billet con rods, new cylinder block, pistons, rings etc; new steam generator coil; new generator case; new burner pan and pilot light.
White Steamers were manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio from 1900 until 1910 by the White Motor Company. White invented the semi-flash boiler, at that time an important advance in steam technology. Their steamers were of excellent quality, and many were purchased by prominent individuals, including President Taft and John D Rockefeller. A White was the only automobile present at President Theodore Roosevelt’s inaugural parade in 1905.
In 1910, White began to manufacture gasoline-powered vehicles, selling nearly as many of those as it had steam cars. The last White steam car left the factory in January 1911. Of the 10,000 steam cars built by White, it is estimated that only 150 survive, around 20 of which are in the UK. They are viewed by many as the finest of the early steam cars, well built and costly when new, and greatly appreciated today.
That celebrated collector Jay Leno curates a number of White Steam cars in his collection is no surprise – Jay Leno’s Whites
Offered at £115000 GBP this represents an extremely rare opportunity to acquire an extraordinary machine, coveted by connoisseurs and collectors worldwide.
An interesting footnote is that White steamers were viewed as competition to the early Rolls Royce Silver Ghosts, taking part in endurance trials like the London-Edinburgh events in the early 1900s. Had the Roll Royces not proved more reliable, Steam could have had a much bigger role in the evolution of motoring . . . .