The Rickett was first produced in the UK in 1858. It was powered by a large steam engine that had pistons either side of the boiler that drove the huge rear steel wheels via chains to the rear axle.

In 1860 a Rickett completed a 150 mile journey at an average speed of 12 mph.  Production ceased in 1865 with the introduction of the Highways Act that limited a vehicle’s speed to walking pace with a person in front of it waving a flag to warn other road users of its presence.