Riviera Hybrid

[Guest Steeleco]

Saw this on Ebay, I kid you not!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Buick-Riviera-Converted-to-Experimental-Electric-Vehicle-1967-buick-riviera-converted-to-/171151358868?forcerrptr=true&hash=item27d96a7b94&item=171151358868&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

[Guest merrillcrosbie]

Ha! I love this! 1980s? Wow, this is really ahead of it's time. I hope someone snatches it that can do something amazing with it.

[Guest REX STALLION]

Sheesh! I have enough trouble with regular electrical problems !

[60FlatTop]

$10,000 worth of electrical stuff and a $3,000 Riviera body. And they didn't put the Make Offer button on it.

Bernie

[JZRIV]

Wow that is amazing. Thanks for posting Steele.

I was interested until I saw the batteries were not included. haha. Wonder why they picked such a heavy car. I can only imagine the electric power required to move the car on the level let alone up a hill.

The price is very optimistic. If someone has time it'd be nice to copy the pics into the this thread so we have them for posterity. I don't think we'll ever see another one of those.

[RivNut]

Wow that is amazing. Thanks for posting Steele.

If someone has time it'd be nice to copy the pics into the this thread so we have them for posterity. I don't think we'll ever see another one of those.

For posterity:

Ed

◦1967 Buick Riviera converted to operate as an experimental electric vehicle

◦Project started in 1980 and licensed to operate on Illinois roads approximately 1982

◦The vehicle consists of the following:

1.1967 Buick Riviera basic vehicle chassis and standard interior.

2.Custom designed electric drive motor, having approximately 75 peak horsepower, using one series wound 6 pole motor

and one shunt wound 6 pole motor, inline tandem coupled with both motors in electrical series for 36 to 72 volt operation.

3.Modified trunk area to accept up to fourteen 6 volt lead acid storage batteries. Batteries are not included.

Trunk lid to be open when charging to reduce hydrogen gas build up.

4.Cable Form pulse-width solid state controller to control the motor speed efficiently.

5.Fast acting, cable operated cut-out switch to disconnect battery power source to motor controller if controller fails

6.Manual transmission with four forward speeds and one reverse speed to change motor load conditions

7.Instrument panel having five meters, plus indicators and selector switches.

The original Buick instrument panel is complete but not used for the electric conversion.

8.Power assisted brakes, using original vacuum booster system with vacuum supplied by an independent 12 volt pump.

9.Interior lighting, head lights, wipers, brake lights, etc., powered by two independent lead acid batteries.

Also, some pilot control is fed by 12 volts.

10.Documentation and schematics for Cable Form controller. Original Buick 1967 manufacturer's service manual.

Miscellaneous engineering documentation to help new owner.

11.Original Buick spare parts; radiator, power steering, radio, misc. small parts too numerous to list.

Note: Car is no longer running. This vehicle could be returned to it's original condition or upgraded using a modern engine and transmission with a rear wheel drive system.

The body, frame and interior are in excellent condition. Mileage is an estimate. This would be a great parade car.

Note: The buyer should have knowledge of electro-mechanical systems or have connections to people that can assist e.g. members of Electric Vehicle Associations or clubs.

Put in a lithium ion battery and some electrical/mechanical modifications and you'll have a vehicle with extended range capacity over lead acid batteries.

The basics are all there - you'll have as much fun as we did when we built this in the '80's.

This car has been kept indoors or in a garage since 1980.

Edited October 18, 2013 by RivNut (see edit history)

[Bleach]

Those photos look like they're from 1980.

[JZRIV]

Thanks for posting those Ed

Chuckling after reading the last paragraph. That makes it real enticing - spend $10-12k for a lithium battery plus another $10k in engineering and controls to adapt it so you can go 5 miles insead of mile. Just poking fun. I don't blame them for trying to hype it up. Its gonna be a tough sell. That car would be best donated to a museum somewhere. Interestingly its already a dinosaur in terms of how far electric cars have come since it was built.

Put in a lithium ion battery and some electrical/mechanical modifications and you'll have a vehicle with extended range capacity over lead acid batteries.