Grenville steam carriage: The world’s oldest car finds new home

The Grenville steam carriage is possibly the world's oldest surviving 'car'...

The Grenville steam carriage, believed to be the oldest self-propelled passenger-carrying road vehicle still in working order, has found a new home – at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, in the UK. The Grenville is the best surviving example of the private steam-powered vehicles developed between 1860 and 1890, before the widespread appearance of the motor car.

Designed in around 1875 by Robert Neville Grenville of Butleigh Court, Glastonbury (UK), the Grenville steam carriage was built over a period of fifteen years, with some assistance from George Jackson Churchward who later worked as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Western Railway.

The engine was originally a single-cylinder type mounted on the boiler, but this was later replaced with a twin-cylinder engine. In addition to the driver and the steersman there is seating for four passengers. There is also a small seat in the engine compartment for the fireman who is responsible for firing the boiler and maintaining its water level. The boiler, designed to raise steam quickly and supply it steadily to a pump, was not entirely suitable for the intermittent demands of a vehicle, and required diligent and expert firing. Still, at full pelt, the carriage could attain a top speed of about 30km/h.

In recent years, the Grenville has appeared at various vintage car rallies and other events. In November 2000, it successfully completed the London – Brighton Veteran Car Run in a time just exceeding nine hours.

‘I am delighted to welcome the 1875 Grenville Steam Carriage to the National Motor Museum. This transport icon is the oldest self-propelled passenger-carrying road vehicle still operating, and having been fortunate enough to have ridden on the Grenville, I was very surprised by its speed and manoeuvrability. It now becomes the oldest vehicle on the display at the Museum and we are most grateful to Curator Andy King and his volunteers from Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives for delivering the Grenville to us,’ says Andrea Bishop, Director of Collections at the National Motor Museum.