In 1900, steam-powered cars were unbeatable compared to internal combustion engines. They were the first to break the 100km/h record, reaching 120 km/h. From 1920, the roles were reversed and steam cars became unprofitable, mainly due to the invention of the electric starter.
A Stanley car set a land speed record of 204km/h in 1906, and the following year one recorded almost 240km/h, before crashing near Daytona Beach.
