Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

Eclectic Electric: B&Z Electra King

051616 Barn Finds - 19xx Electra King - 1

Um.. here’s an odd one, to say the least. This is a B&Z Electra King made between the early-Kennedy administration until sometime in the early-Reagan administration. That’s a fairly long time, both politically and for an EV company to even be in business. These little 3-wheeler EVs had a 36 volt electric motor with two-speed motor and reverse. This was, and is, a street legal vehicle, and although the name is similar, this isn’t Elektra King from James Bond’s The World Is Not Enough. This eclectic electric is on eBay for $1,995. And guess where it’s located? Yes, California! Ok, I’ll try to come up with a more difficult question than that.

051616 Barn Finds - 19xx Electra King - 2

In all fairness, these cars were made in California; Long Beach to be exact, by the B&Z Electric Car Company, which believe it or not, is still around! And, since the Electra King has a range of about 30 miles and a top speed of about 25-30 mph, it probably hasn’t traveled far enough to cross the border yet. Needless to say, this thing is cool in my world, I absolutely love these quirky, small cars. It’s so easy to hoard.. ha, er.. I mean, to store a garage full of these little things compared to storing two Packards and a ’74 Lincoln. Not that I wouldn’t want two Packards and a Lincoln, but I’d much rather have a garage full of these little oddballs. Who’s with me on that?! Hello? Guys? Hey, where’d everyone go?

051616 Barn Finds - 19xx Electra King - 3

This shouldn’t be a hard car to master, controls-wise. There are a few homemade-looking switches and.. and, that’s about it. You can charge up the six 6-volt marine batteries with a regular household current in 4-6 hours. That’s not too bad, is it? You can drive it around your neighborhood, to the store, out to eat, drive it to a car show, and maybe even drive it around at a flea market and fill the decent-sized trunk with even more oddball finds. I know that most of you could care less about unusual vehicles like this one. And, especially when you throw in the EV factor which is a dirty word, or letters, to most car guys and gals. Are there any other fans of these little unusual, little electric vehicles out there? I can’t be the only one!

Comments

  1. Avatar grant

    No I like it. I’ve seen them before but it’s different and cool. The question on everybody’s mind Scotty, do you have 2 Packards and a Lincoln? Can we see them?

    Like 1
  2. Avatar Chris In Australia

    So if a Buick Electra 225 is named after the length of the car, what’s this one?
    An Electra 75?

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Brakeservo

    Golf carts just don’t do a thing for me . . . whether they can be driven on the street or not . . .

    Like 0
    • Avatar Renee Bromfield

      It’s an electric car not a golfcart we love ours !!
      It was stolen but we got it back

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Glen

    Put bigger bumpers on, and you’ve got a bumper car! It sort of looks amphibious from the front. weird and wonderful.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Doc

    Great for the short commute. a few miles in town at best.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Dave Wright

    Silly price when decent GEM cars are selling for less than 1000.00 from the government if you like this’s ins kind of thing

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Mike

    In the town I live next to, they changed a city law that allows for golf carts and ATV to be driven on the city streets, back when gas was pushing $4.00 a gallon, so this would be great for the little runs to the store. Shame it is in California, I guess I will just stick to my John Deere Gator for the quick run to town.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Bryan Cohn

    I love the oddballs, weird and wonderful, keep them coming!

    Like 0
  9. Avatar GLouie

    How can an Electric Car Company – if it is still around – not have a Website? (at least I couldn’t find one . . .)

    Like 0
  10. Avatar LD

    Love the top (hope it runs like one), like a cartoon car come to life! LD71 :D

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Hoos Member

    I think Rick Dale, of American Restoration fame, restored a 4 wheel version of one of these. It’s a neat little vehicle.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Tim Rusling

    I just love this thing. Much more affordable than a gas Messershmitt, Trident or Peel. I’d love it for neighborhood jaunts.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Greg

    Got one of these little weirdos years back, and now have a 48V motor and controller ready to install (the old motor and mount had been removed years before I got it). Any thoughts or ideas? Hoping the charger still works – haven’t tested it yet. Live in NorCal, so if anybody knows anybody who might want to help me tackle it, let me know…

    Like 0
    • Avatar Stinky

      Did you get yours up and running? I have the opportunity to buy a project one.

      Like 0
  14. Avatar Mitch

    I have a green one that runs great I like the fact that use the world war II tank turret motor as a drive motor it’s very quick tight turning radius very nice little car a little warm in Tucson Arizona as it’s all enclosed vehicle would like to know more if you can help me don’t see many of them around thanks Mitch

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Laurie Fadness

    I have a 4 wheel yellow Electra king car. It use to run but it’s been sitting for years and when I went to go drive it the batteries had been taken out. Not sure how to hook them back up once I buy new ones? Anyone know how to work on theses little treasures?

    Like 0
  16. Avatar bill

    It’s “couldn’t care less”, not “could”. No one ever gets this right.

    Like 0

Leave a Reply to grant Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.