![]() ![]() By the mid-1910s, they became almost indistinguishable from roadsters. They were designed for light use over short distances. Runabouts were popular in North America from the late 19th century to about 1915. 1907 Cadillac Model K at AutoWorld in Brussels Some later runabouts had the engine in what became the conventional position at the front of the car. The Gale runabout dealt with this problem by hinging the body at the rear of the car such that it could be tilted to access the engine. This sometimes made maintenance difficult, as on the Oldsmobile Curved Dash where the body had to be removed in order to access the engine. Įarly runabouts had their engines under the body toward the middle of the chassis. They differed from buggies and high wheelers mainly by having smaller wheels. Some also had a rumble seat at the rear to provide optional seating for one or two more passengers those without rumble seats may have had a trunk platform, a box, or a fuel tank instead. Most runabouts had just a single row of seats, providing seating for two passengers. The runabout was a light, inexpensive, open car with basic bodywork and no windshield, top, or doors. However, buggies titled "runabout" were produced by other manufacturers and soon applied to many different shapes without regard to the original meaning. Stivers patented the "runabout" name and threatened to sue other manufacturers for infringement. The original runabout was made without a top, and, besides hanging low which made for steadiness, it was roomy and comfortable. The special feature of the runabout was that the body was hung low by using cranked axles, and the side-bars were attached to legs at the top of the crank. A horse-drawn runabout owned by Caroline Foster, on display in Fosterfields Living Historical Farm Stivers, a blacksmith and wheelwright, produced the runabouts in his carriage manufactory on East 31st Street, Manhattan, established in 1851. In 1881, Rufus Meade Stivers produced runabout bodies using a patent held by Joseph Tilton. Runabouts originated as a type of horse and carriage body. ![]()
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