If you’ve ever spent hours browsing Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace like me, you’ve probably come across a CitiCar. The triangular prism-shaped electric micro cars seem to pop up every now and again alongside other offbeat brands like Peugeot or Sunbeam, but in the case of my searches, I’ve never actually seen a running, driving example up for grabs. Until now.
Introduced right at the height of the ’70s energy crisis, the CitiCar quickly became a quirky alternative to the fuel-sipping Japanese imports of the day, offering an unmistakable design and up to 35 miles of range from its six 6-volt batteries and 3.5-horsepower motor.
The original manufacturer, Sebring-Vanguard, allegedly went bankrupt in 1977, before selling most of its assets to a New Jersey mobile home builder named Frank Flowers. Flowers continued production, albeit with a ghastly set of impact bumpers to pass new federal regulations and a new name: ComutaCar.
Declared the “most popular electric car ever produced” in 1993 by the Electric Car Owners Club, about 4,400- 7,500 examples were built from 1974 to 1982, depending on who you ask. We’re not sure the club looked far back enough, however, as Detroit Electric built around 13,000 cars before World War II started, according to the company’s website. Still, there are enough CitiCars out there that they tend to show up on search results in various states of disrepair.
In a quick nationwide scope of Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, I managed to locate four CitiCars for sale. The first two, located in Ohio, come as a pair, with one mostly complete example and one much rougher parts car. The third one, located in Indiana, looks fairly complete but equally janky, without any interior or batteries. And the fourth? Well, it’s actually just a bare frame.
That’s why this one, listed for sale on Craigslist and highlighted by Barn Finds, is so special. Unlike every other CitiCar for sale right now, this 1976 model is fully road-worthy and ready to cause chaos throughout your local HOA-policed, gated neighborhood.
According to the listing, the original design and interior have been preserved, but the inefficient lead-acid batteries have been replaced with a set of modern lithium-ion units from a 2018 Nissan Leaf. The seller estimates around 9 kWh of capacity, resulting in 50 miles of estimated range. The restoration is more extensive than it looks; the seller has an entire forum thread dedicated to the car’s resurrection.
The car can only travel about four to five miles before the (still original) motor overheats, though. So, unless you live close to your job, forget about commuting in this thing. And like any old car, it’s littered with other small issues, like a non-functional parking brake and an inoperable radio. Still, for just $5,500, it’s about the most rare and interesting thing you can have in your driveway. And if you’re the type who loves to show up with weird stuff at car shows, the sale even comes with a fitted trailer. Mighty tempting.
Top: Craigslist
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