Originally conceived to ferry guests from the railroad station to the iconic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, the Stanley Model Z was a purpose-built workhorse designed to conquer mountain terrain. Powered by a formidable 30 hp engine, it featured a 26" boiler and a 4 ½" x 6 ½" twin-cylinder engine. With a third removable seat offering nine-passenger capacity and quick conversion to a utility platform, it exemplified versatile design.

No original Model Zs are known to survive. However, their legacy lives on in a limited number of three-seat Mountain Wagons – six of which are known today – hand-assembled by legendary steam car restorer Carl Amsley of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Known affectionately as “sweepings,” these cars were built over decades from original Stanley parts and ingenuity born of necessity. This example is believed to be the final Mountain Wagon that Mr. Amsley completed, likely finished by 1991 and seen at Hershey in 1993.

Mechanically, it combines a 30 hp boiler with a 20 hp condensing Stanley engine and rear end. While Amsley’s dwindling parts supply led to some aesthetic compromises, such as small-diameter wheels and long headlamp brackets, it remains a fascinating artifact of modern steam car craftsmanship. Featuring a rare Baker steam gauge and period-correct adaptations, this machine is both a curiosity and a tribute to the enduring appeal of steam motoring.