While the first motorized vehicle in Vancouver was a complete bust, the first real automobile to take to the city's streets was a little more refined.
Dubbed a Stanley Steamer or steam car, about 200 were built in the late 1890s; one of those made it out to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»in 1899 to the delight of W.H. Armstrong. It was bought by his business partner W.C. Ditmars, and the gift was driven down Alexander Street in August of that year, drawing a crowd according to one newspaper.
The odd vehicle was being driven by Armstrong's business associate George Taylor, who used a tiller to steer as kids ran alongside and pedestrians watched the unusual sight. At top speed, it hit 15 miles per hour or about 25 km/h.
While there was no horn, it did have a bell, which you rang with pedals.
Shortly after showing off the vehicle in the town centre, they took it on a trip around Stanley Park.
Ditmars, who spent $1,000 on the Stanley (or about $30,000 in today's dollars), wasn't actually too impressed with the purchase, and apparently called it a "rank extravagance" and "a toy," according to the news article from 1942. However, someone else saw promise in the oddity; the tiny automobile inspired the city's fire chief to pursue the purchase of a horseless fire engine.
