John Pryde’s 1921 Stanley Steam Car is his pride and joy.
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The Vacy man will drive the steam-powered car into Maitland for the Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest, on April 18 and 19.
Mr Pryde bought the car on November 17, 1992 in Western Australia.
“I got it going the first day I had it,” he said. “But it gave up the ghost after that and I spent my time working on it in parts.”
The Stanley Steam Car is a cross between a locomotive and an automobile.
It looks like a car, but runs on steam fired by kerosene and under the bonnet is a boiler in the place of an engine.
Unlike a train, the car does not release visible steam, thanks to a condenser built into the vehicle.
“I have always been fascinated by steam engines,” Mr Pryde said.
“There is only about 20 of these cars in the country. You have to be really dedicated to keep them going.”
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Mr Pryde and his wife Maureen still take the Stanley out on the road and the car can reach speeds of 100km/h.
It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to get up the steam to drive the car, but once the boiler’s pilot light is on, it holds the pressure and only takes two or three minutes to get going.
This is the second Stanley Steam Car Mr Pryde has restored and he has done his best to stick with the original design, only changing the colour of the collapsible roof.
“The Stanley Steamer is a great addition to this year’s Steamfest line-up,” Maitland City Council events co-ordinator Adam Franks said.
“Operating on steam, this will be just one of the main features at the Rally Ground, which will be packed with things to do and see like traction and miniature steam engines, vintage farm machinery, Kids Adventureland, steam bus rides, tractor pull and mini train rides.”
For more information about the event visit steamfest.com.au.
