1910 Sears Model P Four Passenger Motorbuggy
Long before Amazon made doorstep delivery a way of life, Americans could actually order a complete automobile from the pages of a Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog and have it shipped in crates to their nearest railroad depot.
Designed by Alvaro S. Krotz and built by Lincoln Motor Car Works in Chicago, the Sears Motorbuggy was offered between 1908 and 1912, with prices ranging from $325 to $475. This made it an affordable option aimed at rural customers who already relied on Sears for everything from tools to entire houses.
By 1910, the Model P had evolved into the line’s top offering, equipped with an air-cooled, horizontally opposed two-cylinder engine producing 14 horsepower (an upgrade from earlier 10 hp versions).
The engine drove the rear wheels via dual chain drive, while the chassis featured an 87-inch wheelbase, full-elliptic cart springs, wooden-spoke wheels, and hard rubber tires. Steering was by tiller, a design choice that was already old-fashioned by the standards of the day.
Despite the innovative sales approach and Sears’ vast customer base, the Motorbuggy struggled to compete with more modern rivals like the Ford Model T. Each car reportedly sold at a loss, and the venture quietly ended in 1912.
Source
