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Electric Vehicle of the 70s Made in Florida Discovered After Years of Forgetting and Gains New Life After Cleaning
The Sebring CitiCar, a small electric vehicle manufactured in the 1970s, has recently resurfaced in Florida. Forgotten by many, this car was rediscovered and cleaned for the first time in two decades, bringing to light a curious and little-known part of electric vehicle history.
Below, we will explore the history and characteristics of this peculiar electric vehicle that was a pioneer in its time.
How the CitiCar Came to Be and Its Characteristics
Manufactured by Sebring-Vanguard, the CitiCar was produced between 1974 and 1977. This tiny electric car is only 2.4 meters long, making it ideal for short-distance travel.
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With only 6 horsepower, the CitiCar may not be the fastest, but its compact size gives it unique agility, a characteristic that makes it practical for urban environments.
The CitiCar was an attempt to respond to the 1970s oil crisis, offering a sustainable alternative, albeit with limitations in range and speed.
Despite the challenges, it remained in production for about three years, which is significant for an electric car of that era. With a quirky design, the CitiCar is easily recognized by its square shape and simple lines, giving it a retro look that today sparks curiosity among classic car enthusiasts.
Discovered and Restored
The story of the Sebring CitiCar has recently resurfaced, thanks to the YouTube channel MAD Detailing, specialized in automotive detailing.
In one of their videos, the hosts demonstrated the cleaning and restoration process of the CitiCar, which had not been washed for 20 years. This specific vehicle was brought in by Jimmy, from the channel Jimmy’s World, another enthusiast of eccentric vehicles, who has transformed an Elvis Presley jet into a trailer.
The connection between the two of Jimmy’s vehicles goes beyond their unusual stories; both share a vibrant red paint job, becoming a sort of trademark of their owner.
The Long History of Electric Vehicles
Although it seems new, electric vehicles have a much longer history than one might think. They emerged in the United States even before gasoline cars.
The first electric car in the country was developed in 1890, well before the famous Ford Model T, which was launched in 1908 and helped popularize gasoline vehicles. However, with the decline in production costs of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, electric cars slowly fell into obscurity.
Although not as remembered as other models, the CitiCar held the record for the best-selling electric vehicle in North America for nearly three decades, from 1979 until 2011, when it was surpassed by the Nissan Leaf. This impressive achievement highlights the historical importance of the CitiCar and how pioneering it was for its time.
With over 4,400 units sold, the CitiCar was the EV that stood out in a time when infrastructure and public acceptance were still not ready for electric mobility.
Today, it is seen as a fascinating relic, representing a chapter of the past that has gained new relevance with the growing interest in sustainable vehicles.
The Sebring CitiCar is much more than a small, old car; it represents a symbol of the resilience of electric vehicles and the search for alternatives to fossil fuel.
Even with its limitations, this small EV was a milestone in the automotive market and continues to inspire curiosity and admiration. Today, its rediscovery serves to remind us that the quest for sustainable innovation is an old agenda.
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