Looking for a neighborhood runabout? A short-haul grocery-getter? Or do you get a charge out of motorized oddities? We’ve got just the vehicle for you! From the middle of the historical continuum of electric vehicles comes this chipper 1963 Electra King, available here on facebook Marketplace with an asking price of $4700. It’s located in Redmond, Oregon. It runs! … but unless you live in Terrebonne or Powell Butte, both within shouting distance, probably best to haul it home. The Electra King was made by B&Z Electric Car Company, founded in 1961 in Long Beach, California. B&Z lasted until 1981, putting several models into the hands of short-hop commuters. Most were three-wheelers, but in 1971, the company produced a few four-wheelers. Thanks to T.J. for the tip!
Here’s the “powerplant” – an electric motor, system of solenoids (recently replaced), and a 6v battery. Performance – if you can call it that – is quick at first thanks to the torque from electricity, but it’s just about the slowest thing on earth up to its top speed. That can vary from 18 mph to over 30 mph depending upon which motor was provided. Most were only 1 hp, and that’s probably a good thing, because those springs comprise the rear suspension, and braking is theoretical at best. Better to practice avoidance.
Steering was offered either by tiller or steering wheel and acted on the front wheel. Looks like this example has a “modern” battery tester; this photo shows what the original looked like. The rest of the controls comprise a pushbutton to choose forward or reverse, a timer meant to suggest how much longer your charge will last, and an amp gauge. Electra Kings were carpeted and the seats were well-padded – another fraction of the near-non-existent suspension! The seller says the lights, blinkers and wiper work.
See that black port below and to the right of the left tail lamp? That’s the charging port; originally, the car had an on-board tender. The trunk will carry a few groceries, maybe a tennis racquet or two. The body is fiberglass, and windows are often replaced by Perspex. This one is missing its side windows, and the top needs a repair before the rear window – also missing – can be replaced.
Like a live cartoon, the Electra King has its charms. Suicide doors, grille whiskers, hood and trunk trim – it’s trying to be a grown-up. This is the perfect neighborhood commuter, provided your streets are flat and devoid of stop signs, and speeds are low. Could you find a use for this cheerful vintage EV?
As the biggest opponent to EVs, you sure will hear from me on these. Now, I’m not a total ijit. I realize, EVs can have a useful purpose, putting aside my biggest gripe, where the juice comes from. What is interesting, however, is how these companies one by one stepped up and failed. It’s a tribute to the good old American college try, but such wasted resources on a pig in a poke to begin with. They have and always will play 2nd fiddle to ICEs. This may have worked in a dry, warm climate, but can you imagine this in one trip in the salt bath? Naturally, it wasn’t marketed to those areas. Until EVs get past the battery thing, something that’s held back the EV for over 100 years, it will remain just a grocery getter in warm climates.
So what’s the answer Mr. Negative EV? I say, until the miracle chunk of energy is released( currently housed in a warehouse in Phoenix), a hybrid type, where the EV part is just an assist with ICE backup is the only way for rural folks, but EVs alone have too big a shoes to fill.
You’re opposed to innovation? Who would have guessed.
To be “innovative” a product needs to be superior to what came before. That is not the case with EVs, at least as it stands now. I expect by the time they are actually on par with or better than gasoline-powered cars I’ll be pushing up the daisies. I don’t plan to ever own one unless it’s something like this thing just for a laugh.
That’s the problem. You can get stats to show by far most trips are under 50 miles or whatever, but what about the 5% long trips? It’s like my 09 Raider pickup. 90% of the time all it’s carrying is air, but when I’m carrying 20 bags of topsoil or a slew of pavers, it’s the only practical choice. PS- This is more of a glorified golf cart than a real EV. This was the poor man’s King Midget.
Putting earth in plastic bags. Humans are “fascinating”.
As a person who lives in rural Idaho my closest public EV charging is a 45 minute drive away and the fact that electric lawn mowers and cars are double the price and work less I’m also in agreement with regards to EVs . I also find it interesting that you can still get government rebates for upgrading your appliances or windows or adding insulation to your home to conserve energy and they want you to buy a EV that uses energy.
Howard A: EV’s are NOT just for getting groceries in warm climates and contrary to sensationalized headlines they do work well in cold environments and yes you can even charge them in the cold. Yes their battery strength drops in the cold, so does the fuel mileage of ICE powered vehicles, my truck drops by about 20% every winter. This one, from 1963, was NOT built to be a daily driver for a commuter but the EV’s of today certainly are. This one is more of glorified golf cart, vehicles like this were made for use in small neighborhoods or communities where you didn’t have to go far or fast.
I agree it doesn’t seem like we have quite figured out how the use of EVs on a large scale can make sense, but that hasn’t stopped auto manufacturers from spending billions of dollars on EV R&D every year, not to mention how much is being spent on expanding the capacity to manufacture EVs, batteries and charging stations. For the most part, the people running these companies are not idiots – is it just FOMO (“fear of missing out”)? Long before I ever heard the term “global economy,” back in the halcyon days of big fins and big V8s, I never dreamed we here in America would be running around with our hair on fire worrying about having to compete with European and Chinese automakers.
I agree with most of what you both say, though I would point out that it is not companies that are spending billions – oh, they are spending for sure, but it is also taxpayers. Globally, every nation that has EVs plying its roads has “invested” tons of money in the form of subsidies up and down the chain to make this work. Likewise, every time the subsidies abate (see: Germany, China), sales diminish dramatically. Apparently the public needs to be bribed to use EVs at this point.
All that said at least the present day EVs aren’t pure ugly like this thing. It’s going to be a long road for EVs and by they get it sorted out someone will have come with something better.
Put a “the time” after the “by” and the sentence will make a lot better sense…
Stand it on end. And convert it into a “kegerator”
Nothing will replace the horse. Motor cars are just a fad, people are not going to sit on top of an explosion to propel themselves down the road. Nothing will ever replace whale oil, there is an endless supply of it. These times they are changing fast. But really I’m not a big fan of electric cars either, but maybe in a crowded city or for just around town they might be a good thing. That was the idea of this, practical yea maybe, stylish uh no. While I like ICE’s, I don’t always think its practical for everybody to drive an F350 diesel to the office or factory every day. Just my three and a half cents (adjusted for inflation)
The horse was never replaced! Horses can’t do 70 mph for 4 hours straight before stopping to eat and drink some water, so they never used for that purpose. A horse can’t plow 40 acres in less than a day – nor pull a combine to process a 40 acre field of wheat in less than a day. Horses still do what they have always been used to do. A well-trained horse still herds cattle much better than anything else – even ATVs can’t do it better. Horses still pull covered wagons for low speed travel – ever hear of the Amish. Do you see any machines replacing them in rodeo’s? — So, please everyone – stop saying they were replaced. They never were – and never will be.
Where is old dobin at now?
If this is street legal and those small Japanese trucks aren’t, something is wrong with the world. Seems like something that would never be used for anything.
I love hearing people argue that those little trucks are too dangerous and how you would be “first to the accident scene” because your literally sitting at the window….then they ride away on their harleys ;-0
Looking for a neighborhood runabout? A short-haul grocery-getter? Do you get a charge out of motorized oddities? Or are you crazy enough to blow $4,700 on this “golf cart”?
For $4700 what a piece of over–priced rusty unusable JUNK. It’s only redeeming(??) quality is it sort of looks like a Simca 1000 from the front but the asking price is an affront to my intelligence!
As a “hybrid” owner (I drive an F150, dw drives an M3LRAWD) I can tell you doubters that there are some situations where an EV works very well; home charging and suburban living being the two biggest requirements for simple EV ownership. Add to that, the car is a GAS (pi) to drive. Fast and glued to the road, great in the wet. Say what you will about Mr Musk, he gets it done.
This comment reminds me a bit of when I told someone a couple of years ago that I would never own anything affiliated with Muskrat and their response was, “really? I wouldn’t be opposed to owning an electric car”.
Ok? What does one thing have to do with the other? Tesla is the only ev manufacturer?
And yeah, he’s about to get a whole lot done after buying himself a country. Buckle up, it’s going to be a rough ride.
Wrong forum for this, but if what’s coming is a rough ride, I’m thinking we just got off a washboard road. I was already “buckled up”.
throw a Hayabusa in it
Or even better, a grenade.
Hey Michelle, what a joy it is to read your articles.
“Do you get a charge out of motorized oddities?”
What a great opening line. With that, I knew we were off and running.
“Like a live cartoon the Electric King has its charm… it’s trying to be a grown-up.”
As a former teacher I love wordsmiths and you are excellent at tickling my fancy.
You make me smile and laugh out loud and occasionally shower my computer screen with coffee.
You have a wonderful gift for words. Thank you for sharing your gift with us.
Thank you so much! The occasional kudos from the Barn Finds crowd is so appreciated. And a reminder: I love writing for all you guys! I learn a thing or two for sure, and most folks have great comments that add to the context.
it was born in cali… so…
This isn’t too ugly… it’s 3 ugly.
But, in it’s own way, it’s CUTE! However, when investing in a vehicle, I also want something I could USE for some purpose. Is this E.V. RARE? — probably. But is is incomplete and rife with lack of practicality. None-the-less, the entire POINT of listing something like this on BarnFinds, is to feed interest and spark curiosity — and look at all of the replies here! It never ends with all of the things and contrivances that Americans have sought to build — simply because they CAN and COULD and therefore DID. And on THAT level, I love it!
Exactly Harrison! Things like this are what keep me reading ( and commenting ) on Barn Finds. Practically everything seems to overpriced, so that’s not why, for sure. Many of the comments are priceless!
So, the cybertruck wasn’t the first vehicle to feature right angled, sharp corners. At least the fiberglass on this one might be a bit more forgiving if you were to hit your head on said corner.
You also have the huge issue with how damaging it is to the earth to mine the materials to make the batteries for EVs. Lithium is exceedingly rare and mining it is horribly destructive, and each car Tesla uses around 1k lbs. Plus there’s the issue of weight. The biggest weighs in at 5,300 lbs plus and they go through tires like nobody’s business, and you still have to charge them on top of it all. In short there’s nothing “green” about EVs whatsoever.
Bla bla bla and bla bla
100% correct, JohnMichael! But we wouldn’t want to upset the “narrarive”; now, WOULD we?
Im anti green energy hahaha. All I drive are old, clackey, smokey, leaky diesels. I honestly dont care at all about pollution from cars/trucks. I wish all the trucks were still running 2 stroke Detroits and all the trains were still steam powered eating coal at a high rate. I like trees and they need that stuff to stay happy. The earth is basically self healing.
I tried to buy a milk float once. Would’ve been quite a good thing, covered load area an’ all.
I’m fond of cars, but I just drive a lot less these days. The motorbike did less than 500 miles last year, the 2CV’s off the road and the van is used once a week at the most. Stopped racing 3 years ago. 15 minutes’ walk / 5 minutes cycle to my work.
I see that my comment vanished after made sure that it had posted — so, I’m DONE on THIS one.
Anybody know a good site about old cars?!
If I played golf, I would get something like this for my golf cart, and try to start a trend for vintage carts actually being used for that purpose.
I’ve never seen so many comments on a car. The sad thing it’s on something this bad.
I was just wondering if there was a connection between the Electra King and the King Midget. When I was about 14 I would have loved a King Midget and I think I would have loved this too! I drive a Chevy Volt. I try to use it mostly on electric. I’ve gotten a little over 70 mpg. My wife drives a Nissan Leaf. I think the quality control is better on the Leaf than on the Volt. I wish I’d gotten a Tesla. Superchargers have solved the charging problem. Just got back from 2 weeks in Costa Rica. Stayed at a smaller hotel on a gorgeous beach for a week. Kept seeing buses bringing the tourists who would stay there a day or two. All Toyotas. Why couldn’t Chevy have gone for that market? When I turned my rental car in, a Mitsubishi, we took a taxi from Jaco back to San Jose. The taxi was Chinese. Driver said it was $5 to $10,000 less than a Japanese car.