C.M. Blomstrom, of Detroit, Michigan, was one of the early pioneers of automobiles in the Motor City, although he was unfortunate in never seeming to experience real, lasting success. His Queen automobile, which was introduced in 1904, was originally a one-cylinder, eight-horsepower runabout, with two- and four-cylinder models being added to the line in 1905. Unfortunately, the Queen company was, as Beverly Rae Kimes and Henry Austin Clark Jr. noted in The Standard Catalogue of American Cars, “in trouble with the authorities, charged with having been ‘defectively incorporated.’” Blomstrom resolved the situation by organizing a merger with another small Detroit automaker, which gave him the funds to cut the Queen loose and move on to other endeavors, such as a new automobile with the not-so-creative name of Blomstrom.

The 1905 Model B Runabout offered here was acquired by Mr. Moir some years ago. It was repainted and reupholstered some years ago in the present colors, and it does not appear to have ever had a full restoration, with what appear to be original finishes still present on the chassis. Its wooden wheels are correct to the period, and the car generally has a very pleasant, authentic appearance, without the extensive brass or nickel doo-dads often added to modern restorations. It is advised that the Queen has not been operated in some time and would require mechanical sorting before road use, for which the luggage box in the rear would undoubtedly come in handy. Included with the car is an original 1907 Queen manual, of which some information within is applicable to this model.

This rare survivor from one of Detroit’s little-known early manufacturers would be an ideal car for undertaking various one- and two-cylinder tours.