Right from the start, I was the wrong person to write this article. I know nothing about cars. Whenever someone asks me what kind of cars I like, I just say, "I've always wanted an escort with a big rear end."

But for some reason these steam-powered automobiles from the early 20th century are captivating. They're beautiful machines, and there's something magic about watching them tootle along without the grumbling and stuttering of a gasoline engine.