1911 Stoddard Dayton Model 11A Five-Passenger Touring
Among the most technically advanced American automobiles of 1911, Stoddard Dayton’s Model 11A featured an overhead valve engine with hemispherical combustion chambers at a time when most competitors still used side-valve designs.
The 442 cubic inch inline four produced 40 horsepower through a sophisticated dual-camshaft system with exposed brass and bronze valve gear, creating a visually striking mechanical display atop the engine.
Built in Dayton, Ohio, the five-passenger touring reflected the company’s philosophy of large, powerful, luxurious motorcars.
Stoddard Dayton had established its engineering credentials by winning the first race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909, and a Model 11 roadster would pace the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911.
The Model 11A arrived during the company’s final chapter. The Stoddards sold to industrialist Benjamin Briscoe in 1911, and when U.S. Motors collapsed in 1913, the marque disappeared despite its technical innovations and quality construction that included hand-rubbed paint finishes and extensive road testing before delivery.
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