History
The car was originally rebuilt by Carl Amsley and Daryl Kendall in America in the late 1970’s and won the “Senior National First Prize in 1980” for the Antique Automobile Club of America, a very prestigious award.
The car was later purchased by Robert Holmes a’Court and shipped to Western Australia in the early 1980’s. He kept the car with his other vehicles in his large collection of Veteran and Vintage vehicles which included a very rare Doble Steam Car. He brought the Stanley to the Bay to Birdwood Run in South Australia in the 1980’s but had trouble and failed to complete the Run due to Scorching the boiler. This was caused by inexperience & mechanical failure resulting into scorching of the boiler costing the car a new boiler later on.
Following Robert Holmes a’Court’s passing the car was sold as part of his estate to a new owner in New South Wales along with two other Stanley Steam Cars, and was laid up for some years. Robert Balfour purchased the car in 2014 and shipped it to South Australia where a full mechanical restoration took place over Seven years. The boiler and main burner and all plumbing and pipework had to be replaced or repaired, also the pumps and valves had to be serviced or replaced. The biggest problem was finding local knowledge to assist Robert to undertake this work. Mechanical Knowledge and Support from the J.R. Goold Vintage Steam Restorations business in the United Kingdom through Justin and Grant enabled the work to be completed by phone support. Additional local help was provided by James McInnes a steam car owner and enthusiast in Adelaide and the support of other steam car owners in New South Wales.
The car is often driven since the restoration and Robert’s three young daughters Brianna, Beyonce, Bian Balfour help as much as they can with great enthusiasm. The Stanley is the only working 9-seater Model “Z” in Australia and one of only a handful in the World still operating. There was only 33 of these cars ever manufactured in the world in 1909. In Robert Balfour’s words “She is a great piece of history” and when she is driving, she’s alive! With the burner working and howling away she comes alive only to be followed by the sound of the water pumps pumping away and the noise of the engine running like a steam train coming down the road.
• This car won NATIONAL FIRST PRIZE in 1980 for the ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AMERICA
• Previous Owners: Robert Holmes a’ court (Perth Western Australia) 1980’s to 1990’s
CURRENT OWNER: Robert Balfour of (South Australia) Completed a full mechanical restoration on the car from 2014 to 2021
*The car raced up Collingrove hill Climb in 2019 at a time of official time of 1.16.6.
The previous day she ran faster due to the weather being more permitted.
Modifications
The car has gone a full mechanical restoration over 7 years by Robert Balfour of South Australia.
This is the Only Stanley MODEL Z operation in Australia and only one of a very small handful of approximately 6 or 7 cars left in the world. This car is regularly driven.
