This steam-powered quadricycle was sold for $931,547 during Christie's auction at the Retromobile show, which was far above the expected top bid of $234,000. The automobile is steered with a lever on the side and uses a hand and foot brake. Two-cylinder engines turn the wheels by activating cranks on side, like a locomotive. During the 19th century when it was used to compete in races, the heavy vehicle did not go much above 15 mph. Don't expect steam engines to make a comeback anytime soon, though, since the heat comes from a coal furnace above the chassis. When I looked at the quadricycle up close, I wondered what cars will look like over 100 years from now. Will we even have cars then? Or will the most technologically advanced Mercedes or BMW today seem just as primitive in 2106 as the quadricycle does now?
