1910 Stevens-Duryea Model X

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys The Hershey Auction event, 7 - 8 October 2026.
$100,000 - $125,000 USD

• One of only three known surviving examples
• Powered by a 318-cid L-head inline four-cylinder engine with three-speed sliding-gear transmission on a sporting 109-in. wheelbase
• Outfitted with an electric starter for smoother operation
• Outstanding provenance, formerly part of the collections of William G. Bill Lassiter Jr. and noted Stevens-Duryea authority, William Alley
• Recipient of an AACA National First Prize in 1989 and eligible for HCCA touring events
• Fresh service work completed in 2025

Stevens-Duryea is among the most significant automotive marques of the Brass Era, tracing its origins to J. Frank Duryea, widely recognized as the father of the American automobile industry. Following their pioneering 1893 gasoline-powered automobile in Springfield, Massachusetts, Frank and Charles Duryea established the Duryea Motor Wagon Company, producing some of Americas earliest production automobiles. After the brothers parted ways in 1898, Frank partnered with the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, and formed a new company, Stevens-Duryea. Production commenced in late 1901 and for the next 26 years, Chicopee Falls would see production of some of the finest automobiles of the Brass Era.

In 1909, the company transformed its Model X luxury tourer into the striking Model XXX, a sporting roadster built on a shortened chassis. Long front fenders, abbreviated running boards, a mother-in-law seat, and dramatic flyaway rear fenders combined to create a machine that looked every bit as fast and capable as it proved to be.

Believed to be one of only three surviving examples, this exceptional Model XXX boasts outstanding provenance dating to its discovery in Idaho during the 1950s by Leland Zyistra. Acquired by noted Brass Era collector William G. Bill Lassiter Jr. in 1981, the original chassis was meticulously restored to its correct Runabout Roadster configuration under the guidance of David Reed and Jack Dietz. Body panels requiring replacement were painstakingly crafted directly from Reeds original surviving XXX Runabout. Completed in 1988, the restoration earned an AACA National First Prize the following year.

Acquired by noted collector William Alley in 1999, the car remained in his collection for more than two decades, during which it was outfitted with a windshield and authentic Stevens-Duryea-branded headlamps. In 2020, G&G Restorations of Proctorsville, Vermont, thoroughly serviced the cooling system and carburetors. Further restoration work was completed in 2025, including substantive paint correction and additional detailing to return the car to show condition.

With documented history, excellent cosmetic presentation, and eligibility for HCCA touring events, this remarkable Model XXX Runabout stands among the rarest and most significant surviving American automobiles of the Brass Era. To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf26/.