1904 Rambler Model L Canopy Tonneau

The Chicago based Rambler Company was owned and operated by Thomas B. Jeffery and R. Philip Gormully. Like many early automobile manufacturers, their specialty had been in the manufacturing of bicycles. The Rambler Company was one of the very first automobile producers with their first automobile produced in 1897. Thomas Jeffery and his son Charles were responsible for the inspiration and creation of the Rambler automobile. The first Rambler was a single-cylinder vehicle with wire-spoke wheels that did not receive much attention from the public. A year later Charles had created two more machines, both still passing mostly unnoticed from the motoring community. In 1900 the Jefferys brought their creations to the Chicago and New York auto show where they finally received attention. Gormully had since passed away so the Jeffery's sold their bicycling business to the American Bicycle Company to focus on the production of automobiles.

The 1902 Rambler Model C Runabout was truly a horseless carriage, with its design inspired by the carriages of its day. The 1902 Model C did not have a steering wheel; rather a steering lever was used to point the vehicle in the intended direction. By 1904, Rambler had equipped its vehicles with a steering wheel. Powered by a single-cylinder engine, the horsepower was low but adequate. By 1904, the figures had been improved greatly. The price to own a 1902 Model C was $750, a figure that was fair at the time. Production from the Kenosha, Wisconsin factories was respectable in 1902, with a total production of about 1500 Model C Runabouts. This made the Rambler company one of the largest automobile producers in the world at the time.

The Rambler automotive company would go from producing just a single automobile in 1897 to producing more than 1,500 examples just a handful of years later. Rambler would go from being a bicycle business to one of the top three automobile makers in 1902. It seemed Rambler would be one of America's great automotive companies.

Long before Rambler would become Nash in 1919, the company would be churning out large numbers of their twin-cylinder-powered motorcars. One of those would be the Model L. Powered by a 16 horsepower, twin-cylinder engine the Model L would further Rambler's reputation throughout the country.

One of those Model L Ramblers would be chassis 4302. Produced in 1904, the car would be an example of a Canopy Tonneau. Its fixed surrey-style top and tonneau-style rear seat would give the car an elegant, yet, sporty look, even for the early 20th century.

The tonneau style meant entry into the automobile was made through a small door in the middle of the back seat. This entry for the rear passenger could be tricky in the early 1900s but the supple leather seating that greeted the passengers would be welcome enough.

Descriptions & pictures by conceptcarz & wheelsage