• Seller: Declan K avanaugh
• Location: Monument, Colorado
• Mileage: 37,607 Shown
• Chassis #: UM8EC0020-11
• Title Status: Clean

You are forgiven if you have never stumbled across a 1980 Unique Mobility Electrek 2+2 because only thirty-five of these classics were built. This is 1-of-13 known to exist, with only three still in active service. Its fresh batteries make it a turnkey proposition that could be an excellent and eco-friendly commuter option. The owner has considerable experience with these classics but is ready for this survivor to find a new home. Therefore, he has listed it with us at Barn Finds.

The Electrek was the brainchild of Unique Mobility Inc. in Denver, Colorado. The company produced the vehicles in a panel van or 2+2 form, with our feature car being the eleventh to roll out of the factory. Its original owner was AmFab Conversions, located in Arizona. The company used the vehicle as a show car. It changed hands in the early 1990s, finding a home with Unique Mobility Engineer Jim McCullough. He used the car regularly until the batteries died in the 1990s before it passed into the hands of Jim’s friend, Ken Jones. The Electrek sat in storage for the next twenty-five years, with the current owner purchasing it in 2019. Unique Mobility’s approach to design was admirable, with the company striving to produce the lightest vehicle possible to maximize performance and battery range. The fiberglass body is attached to an aluminum frame, which was at the cutting edge of automotive technology at the time. The owner describes this Electrek as the best example in existence, and it stands head-and-shoulders above others we’ve seen at Barn Finds. The panels are in good order, with no evidence of fiberglass fatigue or other issues. The paint is consistent across the vehicle, and the frame is rock-solid. The car retains its correct Blue stripes, and the glass is crystal-clear.

Unique Mobility may have focused heavily on weight minimization with the Electrek, but that doesn’t mean owners or vehicle occupants sacrificed comfort. This classic features space for four, with those in the front sinking back into beautifully supportive bucket seats. The interior condition is commendable for a vehicle of this type and age, with no significant wear on any cloth-covered upholstered surfaces. The dash and pad are excellent, and the wheel is crack-free. Occupants may not receive air conditioning, but the factory glass sunroof allows plenty of fresh air to find its way inside this survivor on warm days. The owner notes a few minor functional issues, but none are insurmountable. Perhaps the biggest challenge surrounds the defroster, which the owner describes as a glorified hair dryer. And that’s probably because it essentially is one! The seller believes the heater was provided by Gillette and may actually be one of their hair dryers. It is currently disconnected because they are unsure about the possible presence of asbestos. However, they are happy to show the new owner how to reconnect it. The key cylinder fell out, defying all the owner’s attempts to return it to its rightful location. The turn signals work intermittently, and the factory JVC radio/cassette player doesn’t function. The wipers need a new motor, but that is the extent of the interior shortcomings. One distinctive feature is the center tunnel running the entire length of the interior. Not only does this contribute to rigidity, but it is beneath this that the car’s batteries are housed. Placing the batteries in that location allows for favorable weight distribution.

Powering the Electrek is a GE 32hp electric motor that sends power to the front wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. The vehicle’s mechanical specifications could be considered relatively “high-end” for the era, with rack-and-pinion steering and a front disc/rear drum braking system. A transistorized controller undertakes power distribution, allowing this EV to drive like any other car on our roads. The heart of any vehicle of this type is its batteries, and it was the death of the original lead/acid units that saw this car parked in the 1990s. Part of returning this gem to active service included sourcing and installing new batteries, and it is the winning bidder who will benefit from this recent investment. It runs and drives, ready for a new owner to test the company’s claims of a 100-mile range at a constant 35mph.

It is undeniable that most vehicle manufacturers believe that electrification is the industry’s future. Whether this will cause the death of the internal combustion engine is unclear, but it seems almost inevitable. You may question why someone would buy this 1980 Unique Mobility Electrek 2+2 when there are so many modern alternatives available. Many people have walked past a new Mustang to hand over their cash for a Model T, and the situation is no different with this classic. It represents a significant slice of EV history that is worthy of preservation. With so few built and even fewer remaining, this little survivor deserves serious consideration.