110-Year-Old Electric Cars For Sale

Just to prove that there’s nothing new under the sun, a couple of significant electric cars are coming up for sale at auction – but they date from 110 years ago.

The Historics sale at Brooklands on June 11 features an American-built 1906 Pope Waverley Victoria Phaeton and a 1907 Victor High Wheel Electric Runabout. Both are now incredibly rare, but electric propulsion was considered a sufficiently viable proposition in the early years of the 20th century to be able to sustain more than 100 manufacturers of battery-powered cars.

The 1906 Pope Waverley has tiller steering and a black leather hood

Only spectacular improvements in the efficiency and reliability of internal combustion engines and the consequent mass-production of cheaper petrol vehicles that sounded the death knell of the electric car movement.

The fact that Brooklands – the birthplace of UK motorsport and aviation – was opened in 1907 only adds to the resonance of these electric time-warp masterpieces as they come under the hammer.

The 1906 Pope Waverley Victoria Phaeton, which is estimated at £30,000-£40,000, was built in Nebraska and cost $1,600 when new. The example being sold by Historics has been fully restored.

It features tiller steering, a floral print bench seat (plus a rear-facing occasional third seat) and a black leather hood.

It was brought to the UK some years ago by the vendor, who has fitted modern batteries that substantially improve the range.

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