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Sold 1937 Detroit Electric Model 99C 2146362550

  • 1937 Detroit Electric Model 99C For Sale | Ad Id 2146362550
Overview

1937 Detroit Electric Model 99C

Price: USD $72,500


With roots going back to approximately 1907 Detroit Electric is one of the longest surviving car companies dedicated to purely electric power. Before adopting the name Detroit Electric the company was known as the Anderson Carriage Company and they were among the earliest champions of battery power for their line of lightweight city cars. Detroit Electric enjoyed strong sales throughout the teens and into the twenties peaking at nearly 5000 vehicles per year. Buyers were offered various wheelbase options and body styles including open touring cars and a sporty underslung roadster. However the bulk of production was comprised of fully-enclosed coupes and sedans which suited their target audience of well-off city-dwelling women who appreciated the Detroit Electrics smoke-free running and easy operation particularly in the days before the self-starter.Detroit Electric car sales dwindled into the 1930s as the company focused on commercial vehicle production although passenger cars were still offered on a special-order basis. The older models outdated looks did little to help sales so in 1931 Detroit Electric purchased bodies from Willys-Overland resulting in a more conventional and modern appearance. Later models combined the Willys body with front end sheet metal sourced from Dodge as an attempt to keep the styling current with the times. Rather remarkably Detroit Electric production soldiered on or perhaps trickled on until at least 1939! It isnt known precisely how many of these later Detroits were built and they are a rare sight indeed.This rare and unusual 1937 Detroit Electric Model 99 is an incredibly well-preserved survivor. It is a very late production model one of a mere handful of known examples featuring the Dodge-sourced bodywork. It benefits from recent sympathetic servicing and is offered in good working order with a charming and endearing patina. From the front the Model 99 is virtually indistinguishable from a contemporary Dodge. Detroit Electric retained the grille vented hood louvered inner fenders despite having little more than batteries under the skin. In contrast the main bodys squared-off profile reveals its roots from the 1920s Willys catalog. The sheet metal of this car is remarkably straight and in good condition with a heavy patina appropriate for an unrestored original example.While Detroit sought to make the styling more conventional the cabin is anything but that. The parlor style seating arrangement places the driver on the rear bench seat with a rear-facing jump seat and no traditional dash or steering column. The Model 99 was undoubtedly one of the last passenger cars sold with tiller steering. Like the body the cabin is exceptionally well-preserved with original gray fabric trim in very good order. A few blemishes and minor tears are expected yet overall the seats panels and carpets are surprisingly intact. Fittings like the window winders and door handles have lovely ornate details reflecting the Model 99s high-end status.The beauty of early electric vehicles of this type is in their mechanical simplicity. Without a fuel system cooling system or many moving parts to maintain theyre refreshingly straightforward to own and enjoy. This example has been fitted with new updated deep-cycle batteries in the front and rear compartments. It drives quite well and needs little to enjoy to the fullest on the road. It would also be a most welcome participant in preservation class shows or in gatherings of historically significant alternative fuel vehicles that are an increasingly relevant part of international concours events. In todays rapidly changing brave new world of fully-electric and alternative fuel vehicles this Model 99 represents an excellent opportunity to celebrate pioneering automobile companies like Detroit Electric.Offers welcome and trades consideredFor additional details please view this listing directly on our website https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6695-1937-detroit-electric-model-99c-2-dr/


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Hyman Ltd

Location: St Louis, MO, United States

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