Citicar (let the jokes begin)

[Ron Green]

Thinking of buying one of these unusual, dare I say cars. The only massed produced electric vehicle every offered as I understand it. Parts are available. Unsure what they are selling for so I haven't yet made an offer. Can't be that much.

It would make a great little vehicle to buzz around a campground, use around town after getting to a show, etc. Wife works 3 blocks from home it would be perfect. It will also fit in the front of the car trailer as it doesn't take up much room. It may will even fit in the bed of a pick up. Make it amphibious!

CitiCar = (Production 1974-76 appox 2,500 units)

Motor = General Electric Series Wound DC 3.5 HP

Drivetrain = Single speed axle

Controller = Curtis 1205-211 36-48 Volt 275 Amp

Batteries = 8 Trojan T-125, 6.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, Flooded

System Voltage = 48 Volts

DC/DC Converter = three 48 Volt to 5 Volt high frequency outputs in series

Top Speed = 35 / 40 MPH

Range = 35 / 50 miles depending on speed / batteries

Seating Capacity = 2 adults

Curb Weight = 1,300 Pounds

[R W Burgess]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Make it amphibious!

</div></div>

Didn't someone once say that water and electricity don't match, Ron?

Wayne

[Steve Moskowitz]

Ron,some day corner me and let me tell you about a man who was an Olds dealer in Chicago Heights, Illinois in the early 70's who opened a small dealership for these cars. I can still picture them in front of his small A-frame office on Western Ave. I have a pretty funny story in this regard! Good luck, there are some of these around but I will bet not too many in your neighborhood! Put a Pontiac emblem on the front and you are good to go!

[1937hd45]

I'll PM you the email addres of a friend that has one, he's upgraded to a Morgan trike and doesn't drive it much anymore.

[Shop Rat]

Now that's a cool golf cart.

Is that the one you are thinking of buying, or just a photo to show us what they look like?

Cute little thing.

[nearchoclatetown]

Ron, an IBEW brother of yours in Hershey has several of these. Let me know if you need a conferance.

[Peter Gariepy]

True story. My brother is an electrical engineer, and he bought one used around 1985. I had just gotten married and my wife and if fought over 1 car. So my brother loaned me his Citicar. It was my daily driver for almost a year. I didn't much like taking it on main streets and pretty much stuck to neighborhood streets. It was to slow to keep up. On top of that it was like driving a buckboard. Virtually no suspension and about a rickety as could be.

At the time I worked at an office that had an adjacent warehouse so i'd pull it in, park it in a corner and plug it in.

I do have one memorable moment with it... I was attending to the batteries under the seat one day and tightening down the terminals. I had a metal wrench in my hand tightening 1 terminal when my wedding ring touched the top of the opposing terminal - completing the circuit. Lets just say that a simple gold wedding band glows a beautiful red.

Peter

[Peter Gariepy]

Oh, one more thing. I traded up from the citicar to a 1956 Plymouth Plaza 2 Door Post with a V8 and a 3 speed. Woohoo! Talk about luxury compared to the citicar!

[Jim Bollman]

A friend restored one and drove it for 3 years and sold it. As I recall the range of miles was closer to the low end even with new batteries and the speed was also on the low end unless you were going down a steep hill. It rattled a lot but was a lot of fun to play with.

[West Peterson]

I believe a man in Harmony, Pennsylvania has one of these.

Say, isn't Restorer32 looking for something like this to take to Melbourne?

[jscheib]

I think there was a magazine article on these about a year or so ago. I will try to remember better next week, or over the weekend.

John

[Dave@Moon]

The local Triumph/Datsun/Jaguar dealer took these on when I was in high school. They sold several of them around the suburb (Monroeville) where I lived. Getting stuck behind one in traffic in hilly Pittsburgh was no fun!

[Restorer32]

We currently have a '15 Milburn Electric in the shop awaiting restoration. I was thinking of taking it to Melbourne but it won't fit in our enclosed trailer. Seriously though, there is an expanding interest among collectors re microcars in general. Google microcar and you might be surprised. They have their own club, shows and publication. The yellow Thrif-T-Car that was shown last 2 years at Hershey has been in numerous publications and has generated lots of interest. Microcars are the new Duesenbergs.

[Ron Green]

Wow. I didn't expect all these comments, especially not getting ribbed to much for considering buying one.

My friends told me I was crazy when I bought the Amphicar before they took off so maybe there is something to collecting the strange and unusual? The motors on these can be tweaked to 6 HP from 3.5 fairly easy and the Optima made for high drain (yellow) batteries are 10 times better then what was available in the 70's. Scary don't even have it and already working on it in my head.

Wayne, Quote; "Didn't someone once say that water and electricity don't match" That never stopped Amphicar from putting in Lucas electrics.

Steve, the Olds dealer didn't eat to well selling these. I could put a Pontiac emblem on it and call it a Star-Light or Citi-Chief.

Bob, replied to your PM.

Susan, I have a picture of the one I'm looking at however I didn't post it as I don't have permission from my friend, plus we are entering the negotiating stage.

Doug, I sent you a PM.

Peter, the suspension does remind one of a golf cart. A good safety reminder, take your rings, etc off when tinkering.

[Dandy Dave]

I have a friend not far from here that has one. He has been collecting some of these small and unusual vehicles the last several years. I think they are neat and they do hold a place in our automotive history. He tell's me that the prices have been climbing the last few years. Dave!

[Restorer32]

Checkout MINUTIA an online discussion forum for microcars.

[R Walling]

There was a new car now being produced that was shown on TV a little while ago. The writer drove it to work, into the elevator and down the hall to his desk. The only problem is that it has no reverse. No Problem! They simply picked it up and turned it around!

[Guest Albert]

A friend of mine has one at his shop right now, to work on.. it also has a 12v battery as well for the extras, like wipers and radio under the hood..

[nearchoclatetown]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Restorer32</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Checkout MINUTIA an online discussion forum for microcars. </div></div>Minutia is a killer site!

[Peter Gariepy]

http://minutia-microcarsminicars.blogspot.com/

[MarkV]

The idea was noble and it was a cool idea with good tech. far ahead of the time (look at the other things from the 70's) but, the design was bad and it was not that safe. Can you find electrical parts for that?

[Guest ChrisSummers]

Someone named "Green" owning an electric car...that works very well!

The first Citicar I ever saw was at Bellm's in Florida. Like all of their smaller cars, it was displayed above visitors's heads, secured to the wall about ten feet up with strong cable. Made quite an expression on a 6-year-old kid--both the car, and the display.

[JohnD1956]

Everything old is new again. I just saw an electric car given away on the Price Is Right game show on Monday this week. The car looked more like a golf cart as used in the football games, sort of a rounded cab with a flat back. But supposedly street legal. I forget the manufacturer but the price is right puzzle said the retail price was $9,579.

4 years ago the local Buick dealer had several street legal golf carts for sale. Here in NY that means wipers, defroster, seat belts, and signal lights. I think these were gas powered and if I recall right the price was right around $5,300 or so.

I was almost tempted, but it didn't have a tinted windshield .

[novaman]

There was one of these at the 2001 AACA GVACS car show in Rochester NY. Don't know whose it was. May have been one already mentioned here.

[Ron Green]

Since I posted this Citicar's seem to be surfacing, at least around this area from the PM's, etc I have been receiving. I would have thought most would have been further south because of weather.

Here is a picture of me in a Messerschmitt at a micro-meet last summer in Canada. The owner was very nice showing me everything and allowing me to sit in it (insisted) however he wouldn't give me the keys (tried). The Amphicars (12) stopped in for a visit and it was a great time.

[Twitch]

I personally hope EVERYBODY buys electrics and mini-weirdo cars. Then I'll have plenty of gas for my cars.

[Peter Gariepy]

A cool citicar link.

http://www.didik.com/citicar.htm

[JohnD1956]

Here's some incentive to go with the car Ron, Check out the Total $18,652.00 bottom line!

Street legal custom cart

[JohnD1956]

I think this is the one I saw on the Price is Right show.

Electric neighborhood car

[Shop Rat]

For what that costs you can get a very nice Jeep Liberty. I know because we did. And it has 4-wheel drive, a better warranty and windows.

[Ron Green]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JohnD1956</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here's some incentive to go with the car Ron, Check out the Total $18,652.00 bottom line! </div></div>

I'm glad my wife doesn't read this form as it has taken a while to convince her that the Citicar is / was actually a car. She was telling me if we get it she would drive it to work and seemed excited which is rare with her and old cars. I must keep the golfcart image from her, plus she nicknames all the vehicles.

[Ron Green]

Well I am now the proud owner of a Citicar. Already blew a fuse and drained the batteries within a few hours of ownership. Now I need to read the manual.

[West Peterson]

We all think you blew your fuse when you first posted that you wanted to buy one.

[Ron Green]

Ok Val, I mean West.

I concede, I'm starting to like the oddball stuff more and more. FYI, I was told that there are only 50 of these in operational condition.

[Shop Rat]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ron Green</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was told that there are only 50 of these in operational condition.</div></div>

The rest still have SPAM in them.

Just kiddin' Ron. It is very cute and I hope to see it in person someday.

[R W Burgess]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Already blew a fuse and drained the batteries within a few hours of ownership </div></div>

You sure that one's operational????

Wayne

[nearchoclatetown]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ron Green</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ok Val, I mean West.

FYI, I was told that there are only 50 of these in operational condition. </div></div>Ron, I think that statement is like the black '54 Corvette being one of ten built. I know of at least 4 Citicars that run. The red one in Hershey is back in action. Maybe you two Sparkys can drag race?

[Ron Green]

Near, I may have to get the Hershey sparky to show the Camp Hill sparky insights on the Lester charging system as I believe mine took out a charging diode. Will know by weeks end as I search through the shop manual. Do have a lot of spare parts almost a whole car.

Wayne, technically it operates, I just can't recharge the batteries.

[Guest AlK]

Plug it in to a wall socket and just use a very long extention cord.

[Ron Green]

Just as a follow up: I was "shocked" to learn that my long time insurance carrier Hagerty will not insure any electric vehicle regardless of year, make and model. The agent had no issues with driving and insuring a car the goes on land or water, just one that is DC powered. Go figure!