1976 Electric Vanguard CitiCar Goes Up For Sale...Sells in a Flash

The Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar is considered by some to be the vehicle that started the second coming of electric.

The CitiCar, produced between 1974 and 1977 by US-based Sebring-Vanguard, Inc. is definitely not stylish, though it did prove that electric worked in a compact, lightweight package.

With only eight six-volt deep-cycle batteries on board, the CitiCar boasted a range of 35 miles and a top speed of around 35 mph.

Today, the CitiCar is cherished by collectors, as 1976 CitCar owner Brent Stevenson discovered when he put his up for sale.

Only 2,300 or so CitiCars were ever produced, but still that was enough to make it the most-produced electric vehicle in American history until the Tesla Roadster took over.

Back to Stevenson's Citicar.  Stevenson listed the vehicle for sale in Utah at a price of $1,000.  It wasn't in immaculate condition, but Stevenson says it's drivable.

Stevenson claims to have received over 30 calls on the car in the first two days.   After finding a buyer, Stevenson continued to receive calls from potential buyers, which he had to turn down.  Though he did line up two back-up buyers in case the original deal fell through.

Stevenson was amazed by the amount of interest in the CitiCar, especially since Carbuzz.com lists it as one of its "Horrible Small Cars."

Even Stevenson admits that the CitiCar is basically "a toy," but buyers didn't seem to care.

What this shows us is that early electric vehicles are now being sought both by collectors and those seeking unique EVs at reasonable prices.

The time of the electric vehicle is now and those nostalgic electric will always be sought simply because of the role they played in bringing electric vehicles into the mainstream.

Source: Standard-Examiner