A century-old electric car that predates Tesla is hitting the market – and it could set you back a cool £160,000.
The 1917 Detroit Electric Model 62A Cabriolet, made during World War I, is one of just two known surviving examples.
Capable of 100 miles on a single charge and topping out at 23mph, this pioneering vehicle was restored after being discovered abandoned in a shed in the 1980s, as reported by Whats The Jam.
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Its listing states: “It is extremely rare to find any of the pioneering Detroit Electrics in a style other than the famous, phone booth-like Brougham, so loved by wealthy society women of the 1910s.
“Yet the factory did build other designs, including some rakish open roadsters and convertibles.
“Among the latter was the Model 62 Cabriolet, which featured railroad-style windows and a fully insulated convertible top.
“Significantly, this body was somewhat lighter than the larger Brougham coachwork, resulting in what amounted to a factory hot rod of sorts.”
The Model 62 was aimed at male drivers, with aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss among its early owners.
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This particular Model 62A was shipped to a New York dealer in October 1916 for customer W.H. Downey, thought to be a chief engineer of a New York power plant.
It was later found tucked away next to a New Jersey gas station in the late 1980s before passing through several hands and being fully restored.
The car is finished in formal black with a matching top and button-tufted blue interior.
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It retains charming period features, including a folding seat below the dashboard for a footman or maid, polished wood windshield frame, wire wheels and painted lamps.
The listing notes: “Among the most sought-after vintage electric cars, an open Detroit Electric is a rare beast indeed.
“The chance to acquire this one should not be missed by the devout connoisseur of turn-of-the-century alternative power, or simply the enthusiast who seeks something just a little different to accompany his or her Tesla.”
The historic car will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s in Hershey, Pennsylvania, this October, offering a rare opportunity to own a piece of electric motoring history.
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