Live Steam Models Appraisal

Mamod SA1 Steam Roadster Model Car

This item is a vintage Mamod Steam Roadster (SA1 model), a working live-steam model car manufactured by Malins (Engineers) Limited in England. The model is depicted in its original cardboard retail packaging, which features the Mamod logo and three 'Quality Award' seals on the front. Based on the box design, this unit likely dates from the late 1970s to the 1980s. The roadster features a distinct Edwardian aesthetic with a cream-white body, bright red spoked wheels, and a black textured seat designed to resemble tufted leather. The engine components include a brass boiler, a nickel-plated scuttle, and brass decorative elements such as the steering wheel and lamps. It is constructed primarily from sheet metal and brass. The box shows visible signs of age including minor creasing, shelf wear at the corners, and several small indentations or puncture marks along the top edge. The model inside, as illustrated, is a live-steam vehicle intended to be powered by solid fuel tablets, demonstrating classic British manufacturing craftsmanship and engineering principles. Important quality indicators include the 'Mamod' branding and the specific Malins Engineers Limited company mark, which are highly regarded among steam hobbyists.