Description
Brush Runabout Model D
This lovely car was owned by my late father. He acquired it by exchanging it for another Brush that he owned (a long story) .
This car was fully restored in 2008 for touring and is in very good condition. It runs well and was used for historic vehicle shows during the summer months only, I have run and shown it this year (2026). Sadly there are no details of the restoration but any inspection is welcome. The car is crank handle start and is fitted with a hood. It has always been kept indoors and covered.
Here is some general information about the car:
The 1910 Brush Runabout was a lightweight, affordable automobile designed by Alanson Partridge Brush, a self-taught engineer who had previously worked with Cadillac. Produced by the Brush Runabout Company in Highland Park, Michigan, the car was marketed as the “Everyman’s Car,” offering a simple, rugged design for early motorists.
The Runabout featured a single-cylinder, four-stroke engine producing 6 to 10 horsepower, capable of reaching speeds up to 35 mph. Brush used maple, hickory, and oak to construct the car’s frame and axles, with coil springs mounted in tension, a unique design that improved ride comfort. The car also used a friction drive transmission and chain-driven rear axle, with no differential; instead, one wheel would disengage during turns to reduce drivetrain stress.
Brush’s design emphasized safety and practicality. The engine ran counter clockwise to reduce injury risk during hand-cranking, and wider axles were offered to suit southern U. S. wagon ruts. Despite its innovation, the Brush Runabout was absorbed into the United States Motor Company in 1910 and ceased production by 1913, unable to compete with the mass-produced Ford Model T.
Highlights
Historic open two-seater runabout
Single-cylinder, four-stroke engine producing 6–10 horsepower
Friction drive with chain-driven rear axle
Unusual wooden frame rails and front axle made of maple, hickory, and oak
Features
Coil springs mounted in tension for a smoother ride
Designed for unpaved roads and minimal maintenance
Weighed around 1, 000 pounds, making it easy to manoeuvre
Counter clockwise engine cranking for safety
This is a rare car in the UK with only 2 others known in the country, 2 owned by my father and one by his friend. It is a lovely historic car in very good, usable condition.
