The Collection

The Seal Cove Auto Museum preserves an extraordinary collection of early automobiles from the Brass Era, a time when innovation, craftsmanship, and imagination were transforming the way people traveled. Located on a quiet back road of Mount Desert Island, Maine, the museum brings together remarkable vehicles built between 1895 and 1917, each offering a glimpse into the design, technology, and spirit of a rapidly changing world.

The collection was assembled over a lifetime by passionate automobile enthusiast Richard Paine, whose vision was to preserve these pioneering vehicles for future generations. He established the nonprofit Seal Cove Auto Museum to share this remarkable collection with the public and keep the stories of early motoring alive.

Today, visitors can explore these unique automobiles and discover the ingenuity, artistry, and ambition that helped shape the future of transportation. The museum is open to the public seasonally, May through October.

Motor Vehicles

Cadillac Model B Surrey Top 1904

Motor Vehicle

In the fall of 1960, to celebrate their 25th anniversary the ACCA sponsored a 18 day European excursion, including the entry of two club vehicles in the London to Brighton Run. The first alternate entry was the Richard C Paine Charitable Trust's 1904 Cadillac, driven by its then owner, Dr Samuel Scher. This car was acquired by Richard Paine as part of his purchase from the Samuel Scher collection in the mid-sixties. Cadillac four passenger Model B rear entry Surrey with optional top,a black trimmed body, black chassis, brass lighting and accessories, red spokes wheels, wicker tonneau baskets, and a black leather interior. Powered by a cast iron, horizontally mounted single cylinder engine which was water cooled and had a 98 cubic inch displacement. Horsepower of 8.5 advertised and 10 actual. The engine had mechanical valve operation and a 1.5 litre inlet over the Exhaust Power Unit. Today when a mechanic visits the dealership parts department or the local auto parts store and picks up a valve, sleeve, piston or bearing and slips it without measurement, adjustment or filing into a repair job, he is repeating a process begun by Henry Martyn Leland with early single-cylinder "Little Hercules" powered Cadillacs like this 1904 Model B Surrey Top Rear Entrance Tonneau.

Motorcycles

Objects