The car, built in 1884, is expected to fetch between $1.5 million and $2 million when it is auctioned off Aug. 19 in Pebble Beach, CNN reported.

The De Dion-Bouton et Trepardoux, nicknamed "La Marquise," has had only two owners beside its original one, French Count De Dion, who was one of the car company's founders. The car is fueled by coal, wood and paper, and runs on solid rubber tires on metal wheels. It can go as fast as 38 mph.

"That's as fast as you want to go," said David Gooding, founder of the auction company. "It feels like going 80 (mph) or 90 mph in a newer automobile. And by newer, I mean 1910."

There may be some other steam-powered vehicles still around that run, but they are essentially rail cars without rails and arguably aren't automobiles, CNN said.