While the automobile was originally invented in Europe in the late nineteenth century, the idea of the car—a horseless carriage—soon took root in the United States with a number of inventors, tinkerers, and business people playing with this new machine.
Harold LeMay, a Tacoma businessman, loved cars and managed to collect more than 3,000 automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles over forty years of collecting. A number of the vehicles from his collection form the nucleus of the LeMay—America’s Car Museum. This collection of more than 300 cars, motorcycles, and trucks is displayed in a four-level building in Tacoma, Washington. Shown below are some of the pre-1910 vehicles displayed in this museum.
Ford:
![photo DSCN4273_zps083f63f1.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4273_zps083f63f1.jpg)
![photo DSCN4274_zpse8c0642d.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4274_zpse8c0642d.jpg)
Shown above is a 1906 Ford Model N Roadster Boat-tail.
Cadillac:
![photo DSCN4277_zps90daeb4c.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4277_zps90daeb4c.jpg)
![photo DSCN4278_zps885e4222.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4278_zps885e4222.jpg)
Shown above is a 1906 Cadillac, Model M, Tulip Tourer, 5-passenger. This car was powered by a single cylinder, 10 horsepower engine.
Oldsmobile:
![photo DSCN4727_zps69a2fed5.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4727_zps69a2fed5.jpg)
![photo DSCN4728_zps0dcb6c16.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4728_zps0dcb6c16.jpg)
Shown above is a 1903 Oldsmobile Runabout. Notice that it has a tiller rather than a steering wheel.
Pierce-Arrow:
![photo DSCN4262_zps0a8ecea0.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4262_zps0a8ecea0.jpg)
![photo DSCN4264_zps9dac2476.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4264_zps9dac2476.jpg)
![photo DSCN4265_zps21426b99.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4265_zps21426b99.jpg)
Shown above is a 1907 Pierce Great Arrow.
Hudson:
![photo DSCN4433_zpsefeadec3.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4433_zpsefeadec3.jpg)
![photo DSCN4434_zpsbdff4b56.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4434_zpsbdff4b56.jpg)
Shown above 1909 Hudson Model 20 Roadster.
Regal:
![photo DSCN4436_zps19d37c8d.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4436_zps19d37c8d.jpg)
![photo DSCN4437_zpsd640ad8a.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4437_zpsd640ad8a.jpg)
Shown above is a 1909 Regal Model 30, 5-Passenger Touring. Regal Motor Car Company of Detroit manufactured cars from 1907 until 1914. They were the first automobile company to issue a recall: they recalled all of the 175 cars they built in 1908 because of mechanical problems. In 1909 they shipped out 2,000 cars.
Hupmobile:
![photo DSCN4439_zpsf2e8d2be.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4439_zpsf2e8d2be.jpg)
![photo DSCN4440_zps8a9b0bc4.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Tacoma/Pre%201920/DSCN4440_zps8a9b0bc4.jpg)
Shown above is a 1909 Hupmobile Model 20 Roadster.