The Stevens-Duryea company, founded by J. Frank Duryea in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, introduced its first automobile in 1901. The company quickly established a reputation for producing cars that stood out for their quality, durability, and advanced features. By 1904, Stevens-Duryea had introduced a groundbreaking three-point motor suspension mounting, which became a hallmark of their vehicles.

In 1905, Stevens-Duryea unveiled the Model R, their first four-cylinder automobile, boasting an impressive 20 hp. However, it was the Model S of 1906 that truly solidified the company’s status in automotive history. The Model S was a massive, six-cylinder, shaft-drive machine that delivered a remarkable 50 horsepower. Priced at $5,000 – an extraordinary sum at the time – this model was one of the first six-cylinder automobiles offered by an American manufacturer. Its success led to it becoming the sole configuration offered by Stevens-Duryea.

Stevens-Duryea’s commitment to precision engineering was evident in the many advanced features of their cars. Engines were meticulously built without gaskets, relying on precision-machined surfaces for sealing. Internal components, such as connecting rods, were weighed for consistency, and each engine was run for hours on a test bed before being put into service.

The Model Y, introduced in 1909 with a 142” wheelbase, was one of the finest examples of Stevens-Duryea’s craftsmanship. Priced at $4,000, the Model Y was notable for its imposing scale and coachwork. Despite its size, the car was well proportioned and relatively lightweight thanks to the body’s aluminum construction. The Model Y was available with or without front doors, with the doorless version prized by collectors for its graceful design.

This 1910 Seven-Passenger Touring is one of fewer than 10 examples of the Model Y that survive today. In 1952, it was part of Chicago-based collector D. Cameron Peck’s dispersal sale, where it was hailed as one of the largest and most refined touring cars built by any American manufacturer. The auction catalogue described it as a freshly-restored “show piece” and a perfect example of a Glidden tourer. Arthur Atwater Kent Jr. of Philadelphia, the noted radio heir, car collector, and philanthropist, acquired the Stevens-Duryea at Peck’s legendary auction and donated it in 1956 to the William Penn Memorial Museum of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The car remained a static museum display for 40 years, until it was sold to Stan Lucas at Christie’s 1996 Pebble Beach auction.

Although it has not been started or driven in decades and will require restoration to be roadworthy, this Model Y’s rarity, impressive scale, and outstanding provenance place it among the most significant Stevens-Duryea cars in existence.