The century-old Model 62A Cabriolet once rivalled petrol cars with 100 miles of range — and it could now be yours.
An electric car built over a century ago — long before Tesla entered the scene — is set to be auctioned for around £160,000.
The 1917 Detroit Electric Model 62A Cabriolet, produced during World War I, is one of only two known to survive today.
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Capable of reaching 23mph and covering 100 miles on a single charge, it was considered cutting-edge in its day.
Originally shipped to New York in October 1916 for customer W.H. Downey, believed to have been a chief engineer at a power plant, the car later resurfaced in the 1980s.
It was discovered abandoned beside a New Jersey gas station before being restored to its former glory.
Finished in classic black with a matching convertible top and button-tufted blue interior, the car still carries authentic details of the era — from a folding footman’s seat under the dashboard to its polished wood windshield frame, wire wheels and painted lamps.
The Detroit Electric brand was best known for its “phone booth” style Broughams, popular with wealthy women of the 1910s.
But the Model 62 Cabriolet broke the mould, offering a sportier design aimed at male drivers.
Aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss was among its early adopters.
With its lighter build compared to the Brougham, the Model 62 was considered something of a “factory hot rod” of its time.
RM Sotheby’s, which is handling the sale in Hershey, Pennsylvania this October, describes the car as “among the most sought-after vintage electric cars.”
The listing adds: “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.”
For collectors of motoring history, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a pioneering piece of electric innovation.
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