Duryea Model L USA（1903）

Detail

     Duryea Motor Wagon Company was one of the earliest American auto manufacturers. In 1893, the Duryea Brothers manufactured American’s first petrol-driven vehicle and established Duryea Motor Wagon Company in 1896. Yet with its development, the company declared bankruptcy in 1898 due to the dissensions among the two brothers. Later, the younger brother cooperated with others and established J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. to produce the Stevens-Duryea automobile, and produced until 1927. According toRecords of the Summer Palace, the Governor and Minister Beiyang, Yuan Shikai, presented Empress Dowager Cixi an imported automobile as birthday gift during Emperor Guangxu period. Many researchers have verified that it is the American Duryea brand and one of the earliest cars to enter China. The automobile now is kept in the Summer Palace as one of the Chinese oldest car that still preserves. The one on display is a first-class collection, also is an original 1903 Duryea Model L. It has a wooden structure and double-row seats, among which the front seats can be folded. After it was repaired in 1962, it won the First Junior Award and the 2006 Senior Award, both granted by the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA).  It was collected in 2010.