
The 1912 Stanley Model 87 as it looks today
1910 Stanley Touring Model 71 1913 Stanley Touring Model 76
Want to hear our founder Tom Marshall discuss the Model 87? Check out this video from the official Marshall Steam Museum YouTube channel!
Tom Marshall: Model 87
General History
The Stanley Model 87 was the largest and most powerful touring car ever built by the company. A roomy touring body on a large chassis, it was propelled by the 30-horsepower power plant, identical to that powering 12- and 15-passenger Mountain Wagons.

An original ad for the Model 87, found in a Stanley Steam Car sales brochure
Our Model’s History
This Model 87 was purchased in 1950 by Clarence Marshall from Paul A. Bourdon of Woodstock, Vermont. Bourdon had used elements from the bodies of two similar cars to make this one, but otherwise, the car was very much original when acquired. Clarence Marshall drove the car with only minor mechanical improvements on three consecutive Glidden tours.
To prepare it for long-distance touring, Tom Marshall initiated a number of enhancements before driving it on many Steam Car Tours and four “Trans-Con” Tours. Having traveled more than 70,000 miles since 1950, it holds the record for the longest trip ever made in a steam car—8,328 miles—without an accompanying vehicle.
This car adopted in honor and memory of Tom Marshall
Specifications
Capacity: 7 passengers
Engine: 30 horsepower
Weight: 4,200 pounds
Wheelbase: 134 inches
Cost: $2,500 in 1912; today’s equivalent: $57,100
Comparison Chart
Model | Car Type | Passenger Capacity | Engine (Horsepower for Steam & Gas, Volts for Electric) | Weight (Pounds) | Wheelbase (Inches) | Original Cost (Year Released) | Today's Equivalent Cost (in 2015) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1901 Mobile | Steam | 4 | 4.5 | 900 | 65 | 650 | 17000 |
1902 Stanley Stick-Seat Runabout | Steam | 4 | 6 | 900 | 70 | 650 | 18108 |
1905 Stanley Runabout Model CX | Steam | 4 | 8 | 1000 | 78 | 670 | 16900 |
1907 Stanley Semi-Racer Model K | Steam | 3 | 30 | 1850 | 108 | 1800 | 47368 |
1908 Stanley Model EX | Steam | 4 | 10 | 1200 | 90 | 870 | 20400 |
1908 Stanley Gentleman’s Speedy Roadster H-5 | Steam | 2 | 20 | 1350 | 100 | 1350 | 35526 |
1910 Stanley Touring Model 71 | Steam | 4 | 20 | 2200 | 115 | 1400 | 35000 |
1912 Stanley Touring Model 87 | Steam | 7 | 30 | 4200 | 134 | 2500 | 57100 |
1913 Stanley Model 76 | Steam | 5 | 20 | 2800 | 120 | 1700 | 38000 |
1913 Stanley Roadster Model 78 | Steam | 2 | 20 | 2500 | 115 | 1640 | 36700 |
1914 Stanley Model 607 | Steam | 4 | 10 | 2200 | 112 | 1450 | 34414 |
1915 Stanley Mountain Wagon Model 820 | Steam | 15 | 30 | 5000 | 136 | 2350 | 54635 |
1916 Stanley Touring Model 725 | Steam | 5 | 20 | 3400 | 130 | 1975 | 43004 |
1918 Stanley Touring Model 735 | Steam | 7 | 20 | 3850 | 130 | 2600 | 40866 |
1922 Stanley Touring Model 740 | Steam | 7 | 20 | 4200 | 130 | 2750 | 40866 |
1924 Stanley Model 750 | Steam | 7 | 20 | 4200 | 130 | 2600 | 36086 |
1914 Ford Model T | Gas | 5 | 20 | 1200 | 100 | 500 | 12000 |
1932 Packard Phaeton Model 905 | Gas | 4 | 160 | 5450 | 142 | 4750 | 82288 |
1937 Packard Model 1508 | Gas | 7 | 175 | 6000 | 144 | 4500 | 74168 |
1916 Rauch and Lang Electric Brougham | Electric | 5 | 90 | 3500 | 92 | 2800 | 60967 |