1909 Sears Roebuck Model H Carriage

Lot details
Registration No: DS 8580
Chassis No: H1116
Mot Expiry: April 2002

The Sears was made for the Sears Roebuck mail order company and was designed by Alvaro S. Krotz but the first years models were made by McCurdy Buggy company of Evansville, Indiana. By 1909 Sears had their own factory in Chicago and for a while this company, which made its name from mail order, was a serious player in vehicle manufacture selling more 'high wheelers' than anybody else.
They all came with the same engine but with various trim levels and the Model 'H' had both wings and weather protection and solid tyres. They were a lot more robust than they looked and quickly established a reputation for reliability amongst the farmers of New England and considering how hard they were worked it is surprising that any of the 3500 or so that were produced between 1908 and 1912 still survive today.
This 1909 model has undergone an award winning restoration and could possibly be the best example of its type in the World and in fact is believed to be one of only two examples in the UK today. It is powered by the Somers horizontally opposed twin-cylinder air cooled 10hp engine mounted under the seat and it comes with the 36 inch solid rubber tyred wheels that help propel the car along at about twenty five miles per hour. It is superbly finished and has many nicely fitted period accessories and the bench seat is correctly upholstered in the black buttoned leather with the canopy hood and irons also being in black. This is a delightful and inexpensive veteran car, which has spent the last ten years being cosseted in a Rolls-Royce dealership in Scotland.