Oct 1, 2025

Restoring all mechanicals on Doble F-30

Hi all, I recently purchased the last, produced in factory, F-30 Doble. This car had a La Salle Convertible Coupe body installed at the factory in 1930. I'm super excited and have chosen to use Chris Wedgwood (in Isle of Man) to restore all mechanicals to original specifications! There is so much documentation on Dobles and in particular this car ..We even have factory photos of its production as well as Abner's Diary notes on this car. As work progresses I plan on updating this forum with photos and video of our progress.

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Oct 1, 2025

Reply to DuesyGuy…

Replies (20)

· Oct 1, 2025

Exciting project. I'm following.

· Oct 28, 2025

@alsancle Same! What a cool project.

· Oct 28, 2025

Very cool!! Can't wait to see updates.

· Oct 28, 2025

Here is Chris Wedgwood freeing the brakes just before transporting F-30 to a warehouse in LA where it will wait until its shipped to Isle of Man.

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· Oct 28, 2025

@DuesyGuy
Was Chris able to get the brakes free?

· Oct 28, 2025

@alsancle Yes.. He got the car able to roll.. Which is good as engine was not frozen ..even though its hasn't been driven in years!!! Note: This is the only Doble to have Lockeed Hydraulic Drum Brakes...I believe the same as a Model J Duesenberg.

· Oct 29, 2025

@DuesyGuy
Do you have any more pictures of those brake drums. I have never seen anything like that. I assume the brakes are basically similar to the Lockheed system in the Duesenberg Model J and the REO Royale.

· Feb 16

@alsancle hi there, according to Marcus Lothrop ( who commissioned the car from Doble originally, he had limited funds and often went and worked on the car himself , he states that he spent hours cutting the openings into the drums. I will see if I can find the script

· Dec 26, 2025

Chris Wedgwood designing a exact duplicate of original Steam Generator Housing in CAD! Soon to be cut, welded, and coated with a NASA heat resistant coating for extra insulating properties!!!

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· Jan 15

Chris Wedgwood researched Abner Doble's notes and designs as well as 3D scanned an existing carburetor in preparation to manufacture an identical replacement for F-30. See below scans getting prepped for manufacturing. Note, carburetor body will be cast from nickel iron while the float bowl will be bronze!

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· Jan 15

@DobleDude

Have him make two.

· Jan 15

@alsancle He is making two for me and a few more for the other Doble owners!!!

· Mar 31

I just joined, mainly because of your post. Thanks for sharing. I have zero experience with steam cars other than what I’ve read. I’m fascinated by them and I’m looking forward to following along as you share.

· Apr 1

@JohnBloom John, everybody needs a steam car! Foruntely for me I was able to talk Perry in to buying this car instead of me having to buy one. But the are a blast.

· Apr 2

@alsancle
stop showing off showing how you’re smarter than everybody else……….tricking buddies in to buying toys you can play with.

· Apr 2

@JohnBloom This site needs a laugh emoji vote.

😂

· Apr 2

@JohnBloom He is sneaky that way.

· Apr 5

F-30 finally shipped a few weeks ago.. Down from Los Angeles thru Panama Canal, quick stop in Dominican Republic.. Finally steaming in open water toward Southampton, England! See attached map of current location!!!

· Apr 5

Steaming toward Southampton, England... Then Isle of Man for mechanical repairs!!!

· Apr 5

@DuesyGuy Do you know where it is in the Atlantic? 4 days ago it was in the Caribbean.

https://app.rumbleseat.com/rumblefeed/feed/11532