Empire (1901 automobile)
The Empire was an American automobile manufactured from 1901 until 1902. A product of Sterling, Illinois, it featured a vee-twin Steam engine geared to its right-hand rear wheel. It had a rectangular, transverse mounted boiler with horizontal tubes across the chassis. Coachwork was of the motor buggy style.
Built by the Empire Manufacturing Co. in Sterling, Illinois, it was offered for only $ 750; the popular Oldsmobile Curved Dash cost $ 650.
The essentially same car was built 1901-1902 by the Sterling Automobile & Engine Co. When this company failed to pay their factory mortgage the company was sold by the sheriff's office for $1,300 and manufacture halted.
