This 1999 Corbin Sparrow has a few things going against it as far as being a popular Barn Finds car/motorcycle/trike/whatever-it-is. It’s an EV, and it’s not lost on the masses that Barn Finds readers, in general, aren’t just apathetic toward EVs, they detest them. Second, it’s tiny, and even though they weren’t meant for freeway travel, someone will certainly mention how they would fare in a head-on crash with a Peterbilt as if that would be welcome in any vehicle.
Another strike: this Sparrow has three wheels. The only saving grace in that department is that they’re in the proper configuration for relative stability compared to the fake Top Gear episode with the weighted Robin (not Burt Ward) that still sadly lives on in infamy. Combine those three things and it’s hard to believe that successful motorcycle entrepreneurs and business owners, Mike and Tom Corbin came up with these things! That being said, they are really unique and I love the fact that they gave it a shot, where the rest of us just complain about others who try and fail, these guys are still out there swinging for the fences.
We’ve only seen three Corbin Sparrows here on Barn Finds. Josh showed us one in 2017, I showed one in 2020, and our own Russ just showed us a nice one a few days ago. They were made for the 1999 model year until 2003 when the dream was over, at least for the first time, and the company declared bankruptcy. They silently roared back to life in 2006, now owned by Myers Motors as the NmG (no more gas) (I kid you not), but again, they went away. But then they came back again, etc. etc.
Sadly as is often the case with vintage EVs, this one isn’t running and the early ones didn’t have modern lithium batteries. Here’s the driver’s view, which is the only view since you won’t have any passengers with you. The exterior looks a little rough with some possible clearcoat issues on the plastic composite body so there’s another expense. There is a decent rear storage space, so that’s good, right?
The “engine” is a 156V 20 kW (1 kW is around 1.34 hp, so that means 26.8 hp) motor, and the seller, which offers donated vehicles for sale on eBay, says that it doesn’t start or run and there’s no key. That doesn’t seem to be scaring off the bidders who have ramped up the price to $3,572 with three days left on the no-reserve auction. You can find it here on eBay in Orange, California but plan on putting it in the back of your pickup for the trip home. It’s only eight feet long so it’ll fit. Any thoughts on this non-running Corbin Sparrow EV?
Ok, I will say it. Hate me all you want. Needs an LS
Hayabusa, perhaps?
Actually that might actually fit. Good thinking sir
Good job Scotty. I didn’t even know that these cars existed and now I see two in one weekend on BarnFinds!
I wrote a long piece for the previous Corbin, but for unknown reasons Barnfinds didn’t accept it so I guess I can give it another go (some of the text refer to some errors in the posting of the previous one) So here’s that posting again:
Okay, a show of hands from all who have actually been driving one? I had been driving both a Messerschmitt and a Fuldamobil so I felt like a 3-wheeler veteran when I got to drive one of these.
There are some errors both in the Ebay listing and in the write-up here. I don’t think Corbin ever used AC motors, they had brushed DC motors and rather finicky DC motor controllers. No idea why the seller writes about 256 V – presumably a typo? It has a 144V system (12 x 12V) and the Zivan charger will push that up to 156V at full charge. If you were to convert it for a 96V Li-Ion pack one effect is that you will limit the top speed to 96/144 of what it previously did unless you also change the motor and controller.
In 2005 the company I work for got tasked by Myers Motors to upgrade this “car” to an 84V AC drive system. It greatly improved efficiency, acceleration and regenerative braking and I got the opportunity to test it. First impressions were that the build quality was horrible. Was the door open or closed? Is the steering column really fastened? Will this button break if I touch it? Going down a steep hill I quickly found that the brakes were almost nonexistent except for the regen braking from the rear wheel which made it pretty squirrely. And then I headed out on the interstate to be dicing with the 18-wheelers…
It didn’t take much brilliance to see that very few buyers would shell out $25k+ for something that sketchy. We closed the project and Myers Motors had to go elsewhere for parts. Not a business decision we ended up regretting…
Thanks very much for the additional information, Beyfon!
So it only holds one clown.
Scotty, I think you underestimate your readers. We don’t all detest EVs. Like other things in life, those who do are just louder about it than the rest of us. Full disclosure: I do not own an EV, nor am I interested in getting one any time soon. I believe that, like gasoline-powered cars at the beginning of the 20th century, EVs are going to get better and cheaper with each generation, so I’ll wait.
CCFisher, you’re right, my apologies for that. I just know from past EV posts, that the comments are rarely in favor of EVs. I just like the unusual factor, I don’t care if it’s powered by Listerine, that would be a fun little neighborhood grocery-getter.
This is from an awkward stage of EV development, not 100% analog and dead-nuts simple like everything from a Woods or Baker up to a Comuta-Car (or conversions like the Henney Kilowatt or Lectric Leopard) but not new enough or existing in enough numbers for the nascent independent EV service ecosystem to know and be able to keep on the road without factory support.
And the factory is gone. Maybe a Hayabusa swap is the best route.
To give the author credit, one was just written up a few days ago. Many times, the author submits the story weeks before it comes to press, if ever. I may be a bit presumptuous, but the author may be talking about me in regard to EVs. I’m the one that detests them, but am clearly a minority. EVs are here to stay, and are getting bigger daily. I don’t think the author has to worry about a crash with a Peterbilt( more like a Volvo) as these and big trucks occupy different settings. You won’t find these on I-70, and Volvo trucks in back alleys or downtown streets. EVs can work in a local setting. I still say, we will pay the ultimate price of EVs if no more power plants are planned, and none are. The “cost ” is the total bamboozlement. Oh sure, your gasoline costs may go down, but it’s known, EVs initial cost is a lot, they are harder on the environment to build, and aren’t “free”, as charging one will make your home meter spin, and we haven’t even discussed what to do with these things once they breakdown. I can’t get rid of my old TV for heavens sake.
Nope, you’ll never convince me EVs are a viable alternative. For the 18 people that use them for short trips, fine, but we’re talking a replacement for, as of the end of 2023, 288.5 MILLION cars in the US , EVs just won’t cut it.
I concur w/ Howard A. IMO, gas/electric hybrids are the most intelligent alternative. Both California and Texas are suffering from grid problems as we speak. The electric infrastructure is not yet in place, nor robust enough to support a majority of total electric vehicles. Yes, improvements are being made, but with wages stagnant and costs rising, there are a lot of people who simply WON’T be able to afford a pricey electric car. If you live in a third floor apartment in a building with NO charging ports, what then? Run an extension cord down to your car?? Electric vehicles are here to stay, but (IMO) they won’t totally replace ICE vehicles.
Put a V-Twin Harley in it.
It cracks me up how resistant some folks are to EV’s, and so partial to gas engine cars. If EV had been the way the market went in the late 1800’s, I guess everyone would be resistant to gas powered vehicles. Anyway, I’ve driven some pretty good EV’s for extended periods, and don’t find them repulsive at all. This particular vehicle would not be my choice, by any means, but it might be just right for someone else.
If electric vehicle were indeed the way that the industry went at the beginning and not gas, then we would now have an infrastructure that could support it.
The problem is that we don’t – not for the type of transportation that takes place in the U.S.
The other problem is that we have an existing fuel-based infrastructure that works for almost everyone. Having a government that is intent on forcing a change is just wrong.
There is nothing wrong with alternatives, but leave it up to the consumer to decide what is best for them.
Okay, we all agree that EVs are here to stay. No if’s, ands, or buts. Just how cheap they’ll be is anyone’s guess. And though we may not see it in our lifetime, EVs will replace the gas engine in the same manner that the gas engine replaced them by the
1920s. So now folks, things have come full circle and that circle is coming together more and more every day. And with that in mind, we
might as well have fun with the concept. What I’d like to see would be some kind of reboot of either the
Baker, or Detroit Electric cars of 100
years ago. The rebooted models could be styled to resemble these cars with modern underpinnings like
4-wheel independent suspension, 4-
wheel disc brakes with anti lock, rack
and pinion steering, wider tires to improve stability. But that’s just the
frame. Body mods would include a
lowered roof, and redoing the cabin
to put those weird looking chairs in
the back where they belong. The tiller
could be replaced with either a regular steering wheel or a scaled up
set of handle bars like those found on a mobility scooter. Throttle and brakes would be in the same place as
they would be in any other car. Floornound of course. This rebooted
design would give the consumer a choice as to what kind of EV they would rather have. Brooks Stevens
did it when he made the Excalibur in
1969. What a cool car that Baker or
or Detroit would be as a modern day
street rod– complete with up to date
electrics! The possibilities would be
endless. Who knows, our hobby could really benefit from this.
One of my boys bought a Fusion plug in hybrid years ago in Phoenix, at that time eligible for the blue plate = allows hov lane at all times,but he works from ! Anyway he uses to take the grandkids to school.He bought a home that has solar panels the previous owner paid for,not leased.
If I may add an epilogue ( a Quinn/Martin production) shortly after my comment, we had another power outage, this one lasted about 6 hours. We have an outage at least 3 times a month. We have an aging electrical grid in my area, so it’s entirely possible it’s an equipment issue, but I can’t help but think, all these plug-ins can’t be helping. Rolling blackouts could be a very real thing in the future. So, as a negative Joe, I’m thinking during the power outage, where’s your EV now, eh? Out of juice, you say? My Jeep started during the outage,,,just sayin’.
I don’t understand the passion and hatred in the discussion about electric cars. I have 5 cars, all gas powered. Will one of them go electric in a few years? Probably.
When going to Europe for business trips I frequently rent electric cars. Quiet, quick and nice to drive. Charging is a non-issue, takes 30 minutes on readily available fast chargers. Polestar, Volvo XC40 are my favorites, the Kia EV6 is fine, and the VW ID4 and Teslas are not quite as well liked by me. I’m just all in favor of the wider range of options. Electric, hybrid, diesel, gas… all have their advantages.
Belongs only in Woody Allen’s movie, “Sleeper”.
Was a/c available in these?
Auction update: this one sold for $3,149.