In Search of Alcos: #8 1911 40-HP Alco Toy Tonneau Touring Car on Long Island
Over the last two months, we have attempted to document the Alco "12"- the 12 existing rebuilt and restored cars made originally by the American Locomotive Company in Providence, Rhode Island. The eighth Alco is a 1911 40-HP Toy Tonneau touring car owned by a Long Island collector:
This four-cylinder Alco was built for five passengers and was priced at $4,500, the equivalent of $103,900 today.
Walter McCarthy has forwarded these images from his archives:
An ad from Joel Naive selling the 1910 Alco, 4 cylinder. "A big beautiful car for big bucks."
An undated photo of a green 1911 Alco.
The Toy Tonneau was featured in the 1911 Alco "Advance Information" brochure. The car weighted 3,985 pounds spread across its 126" wheelbase.
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com:
Archives: American Locomotive Company
Submitted by David Mazza
The Alco on tour in Massachusetts in 2001.
Comments
Hi Howard,
Awesome pics of an awesomely restored ALCO. It looks much heavier than 4000lbs and at $104k, I guess it was obtainable for only a few. They don’t make them like they used to. Thanks for sharing. Also nice job by Joey on the facebook aerial shots of the LIMP western terminal. 😊
My late father, John Craig owned Heritage Coachworks in Ramona Ca and restored the Joel Naive Alco in the late ‘80’s. I remember him fabricating the fenders, cutting grooves for seals on the shifter fork shafts, doing the upholstery, final assembly etc. The last time I saw the car it was in Manny Dragones showroom in Bridgeport Ct about 15 years ago.
There’s always something here, never a dull moment, as you can see with Rodger. You never know what you’ll find out about people on this site. that will amaze you, no matter what it is
I worked on Joel Naive’s Alco in the mid-80s, I was an engineering student employed part time on his collection for several years, and remember it (in gorgeous restored condition) at that time. I graduated and got a real job in 1987, but remember that car and others like his Auburns very fondly.