The Sterand Loco was an early 20th-Century promotional vehicle built to look like a steam-powered locomotive. But an inline-4 motor was under the “hood” that would run on gasoline, that new-fangled fuel of the 1900s. This oddity is said to be a museum piece and you won’t find another like it. That’s probably why the asking price is $250,000 in Neosho, Missouri, and here on Facebook Marketplace, an odd place to advertise something like this. If you have a spare quarter-million laying around, this baby could be yours to own. Thanks to Taylor W for a tip on one of the priciest barn finds we’ve seen of late.
By 1902, the Industrial Age was about to see a shift from trains to automobiles for carrying passengers. The Wild West had recently been tamed and locomotives were a big part of that development. The Sterand Loco was an early example of a promo vehicle along the later lines of the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile, designed to be functional, as well. It was built by the Western Motor Car Co. in Indiana. They were known for building internal combustion engines.
What we haven’t found any hard information on is exactly why the vehicle was conjured up. We have learned that the assembly was ordered by the Chicago Solder Company which made the product it was named after. But how do the two relate to one another? At one time or another, we assumed it moved around on its own at speeds up to 60 mph, receiving power from a whopping 15-16 hp motor. A built-in air compressor was included to operate the steam whistle and inflate the tires!
This oddity has only had three owners up to now, not bad for a stretch of 121 years. Only 12,000 miles are recorded on the odometer, but the machine needs work both mechanically and cosmetically. If you bought this interesting piece at its lofty price, what would you do with it? And you’ll have to invest in the restoration, too. Will a train nut end up buying this?
It looks like a wacky garage build from the early 1960’s with a fabricated story and a photoshopped postcard to go with It..
That’s just plain loco.
Formerly owned by Casey Jones.
No doubt this would be a conversational vehicle, no matter where you would be. Here’s another article with more pictures
https://silodrome.com/1902-sterand-loco/ Definitely has to be something a “rich” person could handle, not us lowly retirees…LOL
Looks like something I would build in my garage after a few shots of jack Daniels. Definitely interesting but worth more than I owe on my house I think I will stick to paying of the house in 3 years
$2,500-???
It’s been for sale a long time and I offered 25K but was promptly turned down last year.
Market is softer than ever now and this one is a one off. Just because it’s a one off or one of three, never makes it worth what the owner might think.
The willing guy with the checkbook will set the price.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutenber_Motor_Company
You’ve featured this before, nearly worthless then, same now. Actual build date has to be closer to 1920 maybe even 1930 but clearly not 1902. Word to seller – I’m not stupid, don’t lie to me about something so obviously not true. You do that, I can’t believe anything you tell me after that!
Just checking will that go though DEQ
That would be great to take to all these small car shows when finally rebuilt.
Is that price in rubles?
Or Zimbabwe dollars?
This price is in RUBLES?
What it’s clearly not is anything built in 1902. Someone put it together probably decades later for what…a parade vehicle?
It IS interesting. But not $250k interesting. Anyway, GLWTA.
This homemade contraption is powered by a Rutenber engine. Rutenber operated 1908 – 1933. Seller insults our intelligence presenting this as produced in 1902. Some hack with a welding torch cobbled it together, maybe as late as the 1950s or 1960s.
Why is Barn Finds running an obviously misinforming ad twice in very few weeks?
Editors, what process ( lack of) allowed this to happen? A lot of your readers spent their time debunking this ridiculous contraption a few weeks back. Once could be a mistake, twice is just not acceptable.
Martin,
You beat me to posting a similar comment, so much has already been debunked earlier.
If Jay Leno hasn’t bought it yet the price is way to high.
Jay Leno is NOT STUPID – he may have lots of money, but one of the reasons he does is that he doesn’t just carelessly throw it around, particularly on this type of misrepresented overpriced backyard fudge-up fantasy junque.
Chugga-chugga motion like a rail road chain now….
If whoever posted this had checked the spelling the information would be easily found. The car was built in 1917. I have no idea where the 1902 date came from but there is nothing about it suggest such an early date. http://coachbuilt.com/bui/s/sternad/sternad.htm
1917 makes sense. More photos too. Good catch!
Thank you. We knew the 1902 date was rubbish, and it’s obviously not a “production” car but was a usable contraption. What I can’t get over is the alleged $10,000 spent I 1917 building it! He could have had a Rolls-Royce and change leftover!
A prop used in deleted scenes from the movie “The Great Race”?
Chris,
That this was perhaps a prop for an early movie is an interesting possibility, and would help explain the lack of quality in how the final vehicle appears.