A Citicar.
The 1973 gas crisis ushered in the so called "Automotive Dark Ages". There were good vehicles during the Automotive Dark Ages, but more than a normal proportion of vehicles during the 1973-1984 period were slow, poorly made, or inadvisable. The Citicar was a glorified golf cart that Sebring-Vanguard thought people would embrace due to high gas prices.
The Citicar was made by a company called Sebring-Vanguard from 1974 - 1977, with about 2,300 units produced. The vehicle had full electric propulsion from batteries with a 40 mile range and a 25-38 mph top speed. There was 3-6 horsepower (depending on variant) with a weight of 1,300 pounds. Performance was leisurely and there was no additional power for added features. No radio, no air conditioner, no power anything - just a steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, and a few gauges. There was seating for two on a park bench-style seat. The brakes failed during a Consumer Reports test in 1975.
Variants included the SV-36 (produced prior to December 1974), with a 2.5 horsepower 6 battery motor, the SV-48 (December 1974 - 1976), with a 3.5 horsepower 6 battery motor, and the "Transitional Citicar" (1976 - 1977) with a 6 horsepower 8 battery motor.
See here for a detailed explanation.
After the Citicar was discontinued in 1977, another company, Commuter Vehicles, Inc, bought the rights to produce the Citicar. They made an updated version from 1979 - 1982, known as the Comuta-Car. It had the same 6 horsepower motor as the "Transitional Citicar" - that made up half of the car's weight - but a few changes were made from the Transitional Citicar. The vehicle had huge energy absorbing bumpers, but it wasn't safe, even by 1980 standards. The body style was also slightly changed.
The Comuta-Van was a 12 horsepower "van" version made from 1977 - 1979.
There's even a Yahoo group for Citicar/Comuta-Car/Comuta-Van owners.
The Citicar was made by a company called Sebring-Vanguard from 1974 - 1977, with about 2,300 units produced. The vehicle had full electric propulsion from batteries with a 40 mile range and a 25-38 mph top speed. There was 3-6 horsepower (depending on variant) with a weight of 1,300 pounds. Performance was leisurely and there was no additional power for added features. No radio, no air conditioner, no power anything - just a steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, and a few gauges. There was seating for two on a park bench-style seat. The brakes failed during a Consumer Reports test in 1975.
Variants included the SV-36 (produced prior to December 1974), with a 2.5 horsepower 6 battery motor, the SV-48 (December 1974 - 1976), with a 3.5 horsepower 6 battery motor, and the "Transitional Citicar" (1976 - 1977) with a 6 horsepower 8 battery motor.
See here for a detailed explanation.
1980 Comuta-Car dash.
After the Citicar was discontinued in 1977, another company, Commuter Vehicles, Inc, bought the rights to produce the Citicar. They made an updated version from 1979 - 1982, known as the Comuta-Car. It had the same 6 horsepower motor as the "Transitional Citicar" - that made up half of the car's weight - but a few changes were made from the Transitional Citicar. The vehicle had huge energy absorbing bumpers, but it wasn't safe, even by 1980 standards. The body style was also slightly changed.
The Comuta-Van was a 12 horsepower "van" version made from 1977 - 1979.
There's even a Yahoo group for Citicar/Comuta-Car/Comuta-Van owners.
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