Doble
Series E steam car

Why it matters

The Series E was the production Doble of the 1920s and the culmination of Abner Doble's steam work: a flash-type monotube boiler giving steam in about 30 seconds, a condenser that gave very long range, and enough torque that no clutch or gearbox was needed. A chassis alone cost $9,500 and a finished car nearly twice that, and constant redesigning by Abner Doble kept output to a few dozen cars.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

After earlier work in Massachusetts and the Detroit-built Series C, the Doble brothers moved back to California in 1921 and set up Doble Steam Motors at Emeryville. The first Series E was sold in 1924 and the company kept building cars slowly until it went out of business in 1931. Reported totals for the cars built range from 24 to 43.

One data sheet for a 1923 Model E14 lists a four-cylinder double-acting compound steam engine, a flash boiler working at 750 psi, a 142-inch wheelbase, 5,500 lb weight, a top speed of 95 mph and a price of $9,750 in 1924.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Invention & Technology – The Strange Triumph Of Abner Doble Level C

   • 24 Series E cars manufactured before the Doble company failed

   Accessed 2026-11-11
2. 2
   Doble model E14 data sheet Level D steamcar.net (Andy Patterson, archived 2006) · 2006-05-10

   • Two high pressure and two low pressure pistons
   • Four cylinder, double acting
   • Displacement 381.16 cuin
   • High pressure 2.875 x 5.00; low pressure 4.000 x 5.00
   • Bore X Stroke ... 5.00
   • Max RPM 1300
   • Wheelbase 142 in
   • Track 52 in
   • Weight 5500 lb
   • Max Speed MPH 95

   Accessed 2026-11-13
3. 3
   The Doble boiler Level D steamcar.net (Andy Patterson, archived 2006) · 2006-12-02

   • steam at 750 PSIA and 750 F

   Accessed 2026-11-13
4. 4
   Doble Steam Cars Level D Interesting Thing of the Day (archived 2012) · 2012-07-21

   • used kerosene as fuel
   • required no transmission, clutch, or gear shifting

   Accessed 2026-11-13
5. 5
   The 100-Year-Old Electric Car Level C Popular Mechanics, Jay Leno's Garage (archived 2010) · 2010-01-27

   • the car can go nearly 100 mph

   Accessed 2026-11-13