The Autoette Project

Autoettes and Movie Cars

2011-11-23T09:37:00.001-08:00

A while back I promised more on Autoettes and related vehicles in film and television. Thanks to the Internet Movie Car Database and other sources, I've found some pretty cool examples of these cars under the bright lights of Hollywood, so here's a few for you to check out. Some are fairly easy to identify while others remain a mystery. If you can help provide captions and information on the cars, please write.

Who can forget Marlo Thomas as "That Girl"? Here she is with an Electric Golfer from the 1966-1971 TV series, Season 3, Episode 5.

"Mission Impossible" TV Series, 1966-1973 Season 6, Episode 2

Here's a trio of scenes from "Father Knows Best" TV Series, 1954-1960, Season 3, Episode 29

Here you can clearly see the vehicle is a Cushman Minute Miser. I love the earlier model like these...

...and the chicks aren't too bad either.

Speaking of Minute Misers - OK I know they're not Autoettes but they ARE cool. Here's one in the 1966 Film "Fantastic Voyage".

Back to a real TV Classic - "My Mother the Car" 1965-1966, Season 1, Episode 21

Another view from the same Episode! I may have to do a whole post on Cushmans someday.

Check out this Marketeer from the "Flipper" TV Series, 1964-1967, Season 1, Episode 28

Here we have a Marketeer Golf Car from "Lancelot Link Secret Chimp" TV Series, 1970-1972, Season 1, Episode 2.

A whole fleet of cars were used for a chase scene in the 1965-1970 TV Series "Get Smart" Season 4, Episode 18

Here Agents Smart and 99 lead the chase trailed by a trio of matching carts...

Would you Believe? The Chief got in on the action too!

Even "The Mod Squad" were in on the action. Here's a shot with another Electric Golfer from Season 1, Episode 7 of the 1968-1973 TV Series.

There's more to come including a 1954 Autoette featured in a film for the web and a reprieve for some Sopranos celebrities and a trio of our favorite little cars.

In the meantime I'll leave you with this last scene from Season 3, Episode 26 of the TV Reality Series "Pawn Stars" featuring a B&Z Electra King.

Origins of the Autoette

2011-09-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

While researching my upcoming book on the history of California's micro-electric cars, I've conducted interviews and done extensive research into the origins of the cars and the industry. The beginnings of the business can be traced to the WWI era and the handicapped or infirmed veterans who were coming home. A number of makers of "invalid cars" began to pop up in England and in Europe, as well as here in the United States. One of the more notable and successful was the Custer Specialty Company of Dayton, Ohio.

Levitt Lucern Custer was an inventor and entrepreneur who had come of age as a contemporary of the Wright Brothers. Custer had worked with the Wrights and was an accomplished balloonist and aviator in his own right. World War I brought him the opportunity to create a mobility solution for the wounded soldiers returning from the front and for the elderly, promising independence and mobility. His answer was the three-wheeled Custer Car that promised "Miles of Smiles for a Penny." The Custer Specialty Company offered cars with first with electric power, and later optional gasoline power. Here are two beautiful examples, one gasoline and the other electric.

In my research I have been able to confirm that the creator of the Autoette was inspired to develop his own design in part due to his dissatisfaction with the complex workings and limitations of the Custer Car, which by the 1930s was the primary vehicle of its type in the United States. Here is a photo of the restored control switches on my Custer Car.

In chasing the origins of the Custer Car I ended up acquiring this one for the collection. The car sat in a collection for several decades with damage to the electrical system until its owner passed away. Then a friend of the collector acquired the car and it sat for another dozen years until that fellow passed away. I acquired the car just a few months ago. Just this past Labor Day weekend, I completed the restoration of the electrical controls and the rewiring of the car. In addition, I was able to take care of some mechanical issues and by Sunday evening take the car for a test drive. Here's a video of the Custer on the road again after many years sitting idle.

More to come soon on the origins of California's micro-electric cars! Thanks for reading.

More News of Emblems

2011-08-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks to those who have responded so enthusiastically to the emblem project.

As a result, I am partnering with Vintage Golf Car Parts of Washington to reproduce other emblems for other mid-century electric cars. Those of you with Electric Shoppers, Mobilettes, Marketeers, etc. who are interested in obtaining emblems, please let me know. We will be looking at making the molds in the coming weeks and, while we have a good selection of emblems, will be looking for a few more to borrow for the mold-making process.

I'll keep you all posted as the project moves forward. With all the experience gained on the Autoette emblems this group should go a bit faster.

New! Exact Reproductions of Autoette Badges and CruiseAbout Emblem

2011-05-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Autoetteers:

After a long process of having patterns and molds made for exact, authorized reproductions of the original Autoette emblems, I am pleased to offer for sale the Autoette badges and CruiseAbout script individually and as sets. I am offering the emblems at my cost plus a small additional fee in order to recover a portion of the cost to make the patterns and molds. These are investment cast solid bronze, better than the original pot metal parts and not some cheap plastic copies. They are made to order only. If you would like to order emblems I can accept PayPal or a check in advance. If you wish to send PayPal use my email: lfisher160@cox.net.

Individual Parts:
Autoette Badge (flat or curved) - Triple-chrome plated solid bronze: $55.00 ea.
CruiseAbout Script - Triple-chrome plated solid bronze with cast in mounting pins: $65.00 ea.
NOTE: When installing the script you will need to gently bend it to fit your valance (not on Wayne cars). These are not sold pre-bent due to variations in the original parts.

Sets:
Autoette CruiseAbout (excluding Wayne Cars) - 1ea. Autoette Badge (flat), 1ea. Autoette Badge (curved), and 1ea. CruiseAbout Script: $165.00
Autoette CruiseAbout (manufactured by Wayne) - 2ea. Autoette Badges (flat), and 2ea. CruiseAbout Script: $225.00

Shipping (anywhere in the USA): $10.00

These are made to order. Please contact me directly before ordering to be sure you get the correct emblems for your car.

The Autoette Project Revisited

2011-03-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

Today, I revised a few elements of this blog and re-posted my first entry from January 2010. As I've looked into the history of these cars I have discovered that the history is richer and more interesting than I ever first imagined. As a result, I have dedicated myself to authoring a book about these cars and the many stories I have, and continue to, discover as I continue my search.

Last weekend I attended a gathering of owners of the little cars known as autoettes that was hosted by the Studebaker Club and the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. My thanks go out to both organizations and to John Seymour who helped bring the groups together. Although the group was small, it included three Autoettes, a Mobilette, three Electric Shoppers, a Taylor-Dunn Trident, and an Electra King. People from as far away as New York and Rhode Island attended (without their cars in tow) and one Autoette was brought to the event from as far away as Santa Cruz, California. The friendship, goodwill, and fun had by all was inspiring. Soon I will post some photos from the event and answer the many questions received during the day.

Meanwhile, for those who are readers of this blog, rest assured it is only going to get better. The stories are truly amazing, and the history far more interesting than expected.

By the way, if you have a story to share, or even just a slight connection to the history of these cars, please do not hesitate to write. I sincerely wish to hear from anyone who might add to the knowledge and understanding of these cars and the people who made them.

Ann-Margret's Electric Sports Rider

2011-01-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

I had promised a piece on the connection of the Kelsen Electric Sports Rider to the famed entertainer Ann-Margret, so here it is.

The car was a 1961 Kelsen Sports Rider electric car made by Art Kelsen in Stanton, California. From what I can tell, this particular three-wheeled car was modified with a custom rear section from a golf cart by George Barris the "King of Kustomizers" at his shop in North Hollywood, CA. As a youth I used to ride my bicycle down to the Barris shop and peer through the windows at all the great Cars of the Stars and Moviemobiles. In a previous post I described the cars produced by Kelsen which, like other autoettes, were primarily built for running errands in developments and neighborhoods and had a top speed of about 25mph.

From two different books on George Barris I've compiled George's recollections of the car. As George recalls in 1964, "More importantly, we did a custom Ann-Margret golf kart as a Christmas present from her new husband, Roger Smith. It was built around a Kelsen Manufacturing Sports Rider electric cart that I got from Art Kelsen down in Stanton. We proceeded to completely re-body it in 20-gauge steel sheets so we could trim it out with hand carved wooden ornamentation. Once this was done, we gold-leafed the whole body using imported Italian gold leaf, which we weatherproofed with two coats of clear. We then added a fringed surrey top, custom gold A-M logo stitching, matching Mouton carpet, her name across the nose in script, and a chrome edge bumper. At the time, it was a $8,000 kart and totally unique. We helped Roger wrap a red ribbon around the cart before he presented it to her at Universal Studios. She was ecstatic about having her own wheels to whip around the huge studio lot." The Barris shop also added spun Moon disc covers to the rear wheels (I've always liked Moon discs).

Here is the car outside the Barris shop in North Hollywood.

The Ann-Margret car was the first in a series of small electric cars customized in the 1960's for Hollywood celebrities like Bob Hope, and others. Unlike Ann's car, the others were based on golf carts. Ann-Margret liked the car so much that nearly a decade later she still had it at her home in Benedict Canyon and mentioned it in interviews for LIFE magazine and LOOK in 1971. Here's a couple of publicity shots of Ann-Margret and the cart.

If anyone has any other pictures of this car or knows where Ann-Margret's Sports Rider is today I'd love to hear about it!

Autoette Gathering at The Petersen

2011-01-08T07:08:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles Chapter of The Studebaker Driver's Club has invited all owners of Autoettes (and other vintage micro-electric cars) to their 2011 Winter Meet at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles March 13, 2011. Anyone wishing to attend should email John Seymour (email deleted by administrator). Please provide your name, phone number, email address and number and types of vehicles you would like to bring. This will be a great opportunity for autoetteers to get together at a spectacular venue. You can check out the flyer for the event at www.studebakersla.com. Please notify any autoetteers who own an Autoette, Mobilette, Electric Shopper, Marketeer, Marketour, Electric Sports Rider, Electra King, Taylor Dunn, LectraCar, or any other vintage micro-electric of this great opportunity. John Seymour will need your information fairly soon so the Studebaker folks can make accommodations for the group. Displays of ephemera such as brochures, manuals, etc are welcome as well as any other relics that relate to Autoettes. Parking will be provided for transport vehicles and trailers and there will be a $15 registration fee per show vehicle.

Your author plans to attend, hopefully with one or more of the cars in our collection. Its a long haul from Rhode Island to Los Angeles but another great reason to head west!

Electra King or Sports Rider?

2011-01-06T12:15:00.000-08:00

When I first found my Kelsen Electric Sports Rider I didn't know who had made it. In my blog entry in October I discussed the Kelsen cars and my eventual confirmation of the make and model. It can be confusing to tell these cars apart so, in response to one of the readers of this blog, I will try to point out a few of the features that distinguish the metal-bodied Kelsen Electric Sports Rider from the B&Z Electra King of the same era and style.

Perhaps the most notable feature is the Electra King's signature diagonal seam where the hood overlaps the front fenders.

Note that on the Sports Rider the hood meets the fender in a straight seam and, the front of the hood lacks the overhang that is so prominent on the Electra King.

From the side view above you can also see a couple of other key differences. First, the angle of the bottom of the front fender is much more exaggerated on the Electra King than on the Electric Sports Rider. and,as the photo below illustrates, the door profile is also different. The Electra King body has a curve from the top of the fender to the door jamb while the Electric Sports Rider has a simpler diagonal line.

Other, less obvious differences in the bodies include the bumpers, the trunk lid (narrow on the Electra King and full width on the Electric Sports Rider), the application of trim, and the variations in lighting. Lighting is perhaps one of the least reliable details as these changed over the years on both cars and may, or may not, have included turn signals since they were an option on earlier cars.

Last but not least of course is the badges or logos. Like the Autoette, some cars were delivered with, and others without, badges. Case in point is my own car which has a hood ornament but no telltale holes or marks that would suggest it ever had the badge. The badges, and in the case of the Electra King, hood ornaments, were also cast from "pot metal" a mix of zinc, copper, aluminum, lead, tin and other metals that was inexpensive, had a low melting point, and was easy to use. The choice of pot metal also made these parts subject to breakage and fast corrosion so they are often missing or damaged. Here's a photo of the Electra King badge.

And here is a photo of the Electric Sports Rider badge.

You can see the hood ornament above, and here's a photo of the ornament on my car.

So why are there so many similarities otherwise?

At one time the founders of both companies worked for Royce Seevers building Autoettes. When the business started to become successful and these gentlemen decided to strike out on their own, Royce Seevers recognized an opportunity in supplying parts and components to these new builders. As a result, both B&Z and Kelsen purchased many components for their cars from Autoette. For example, the speed control, motors, resistance coils, wheels and tires, tiller steering components, front suspension, and even the fiberglass tops were at times purchased direct from Royce. My own Electric Sports Rider is a good example as it has the original motor which still bears an Autoette Co. tag on it among other Autoette Co. manufactured parts.

While there are more differences in wiring and other design features, those above really distinguish the cars from each other. Additionally, engineering changes such as brake systems, electrical systems, and component parts changed over the years and were changed by owners making these features more difficult to describe or use to identify a particular car.

Watch for an upcoming post on a very special autoette event being planned for March 2011 in California!

New Year's Resolutions

2011-01-02T14:33:00.000-08:00

I'm usually not one to make New Year's resolutions but 2011 is different. Today is the start of something big, I just don't know what yet. So two things are on my list for resolutions - 1st is to get back to full time work after leaving a museum here in the Northeast last year. A little self-promotion is in order here. I am an accomplished museum and design professional in my 'real' job and have thirty-plus years of experience in custom architectural graphics, precision model making, motorsports, and museum planning, design, and project management; not to mention three turns as CEO of historical institutions. I am currently consulting and actively seeking new opportunities - so keep me in mind.

OK - Hopefully you are still with me for resolution #2. I've been neglecting one of my true passions which is the history and restoration of our little cars. So, I have decided to set aside some time to finish the restoration of my 1954 Autoette CruiseAbout.

A little background. As far as we know this car was ordered in 1954 for the owner of the Crown Coach Corporation, Mr. Robert M. Brockway. The intended purpose of the car was to use it to get around the Crown Coach factory so it was painted school bus yellow. I have written to Mr. Brockway's daughter in hopes of confirming the purchase and use of the car and perhaps obtaining photos of it at the factory. According to its last owner, the car was purchased at an auction in either late 1990 or early 1991 when Crown closed. It sat for quite some time until the last owner took it apart in an attempt at restoration. I purchased the car in 2009 when I decided not to restore my 100% original 1953 Autoette. So now I hope to do a mild custom restoration on the car as my 2nd New Year's resolution for 2011!

Here is a photo of the car as purchased at the auction.

And theses were taken today as I made the first effort to test fit the body parts to the frame. I think that picking up a project like this is much harder when someone else took it apart. Thankfully, the 1953 Autoette is right next to the 1954 so I can use it as a reference!

I plan to post more as the project progresses. Happy New Year!

The Electric Sports Rider

2010-10-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

One of the lesser celebrated brands, if there is such a thing, was Art Kelsen's Electric Sports Rider. Built by the Kelsen Manufacturing Co., Stanton California. While I am still looking into Art Kelsen and his company I thought a little bit of what is known would be fun to share. Probably one of the most confusing aspects of the Electric Sports Rider was the virtual absence of information out there. What is known is the cars were manufactured by Kelsen in Stanton and sold out of his Long Beach retail location from at least 1963 through 1973. I suspect the cars were made for a longer period but that is yet unconfirmed. The model most are familiar with is the one pictured here.

The New "Electric Sports Rider" was designed to be different - and I'd say it sure was. With its rounded nose, inset headlights, hood like an Electra King, and other distinguishing features it really stood out among the other three-wheeled electrics of the time. Here's an Electric Sports Rider from the Midwest that really shows off the cool shape of the car.

The cars featured a lot of items as standard including turn signals, hard top, removable side curtains with a loop steel frame attached to the door, chrome bumpers, built in charger under the trunk, carpeting throughout and more. However, there was more. The Electric Sports Rider was also available in this model from my collection. Very similar to an Electra King, this later model of the Sports Rider has confused more than a few enthusiasts of these cars, this writer included.

Part of the confusion stems from the wide use of parts supplied by Royce Seevers' Autoette Electric Car Co. As the industry began to grow, Seevers began supplying other manufacturers with parts including motors, many bearing an Autoette label; speed controls; NiChrome wire resistance coils; wheels; tires; fiberglass and upholstered tops; suspension parts and more. In addition it appears many of the cars were not equipped with emblems although mine does have the jet plane hood ornament. Here are a few more photos of another Electric Sports Rider showing the elusive emblem.

One other piece of the missing puzzle was the lack of advertising material showing this other version of the car. Fortunately I discovered this letter from the Sports Rider Electric Cars office in Long Beach and I was thrilled to see the car depicted on the letterhead.

Recently, I was contacted by a lucky owner who discovered a Sports Rider in northern California. This car features a factory mounted spare tire on the rear and hydraulic brakes, a feature added on models in the 70's. This beautiful car sat virtually unnoticed until its recent discovery and fortunately it is in very good condition.

By 1973 this model of the Sports Rider was being sold at a base price of $1,295.00. It was available with an optional Steering Wheel for $200.00; foot controls $50.00; a larger 36 Volt Motor for $60.00 and a larger 170 Amp. Battery Pack for an additional $50.00. If anyone has more information on Art Kelsen or the Electric Sports Rider please contact me. My next entry will feature Ann Margaret and her relationship to the Electric Sports Rider; the King of Kustoms; and a hot rod connection!

What do Kleenex, Xerox, Scotch Tape and Autoettes have in Common?

2010-10-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

Each of these products became broadly accepted as not only a brand but as a description. As a result, a Kleenex tissue is synonymous with facial tissue and a Xerox is synonymous with a photocopy, and cellophane tape is more often called scotch tape. So went the title of Autoette. Royce Seevers was so successful at lobbying for acceptance of the Autoette that it was written into legislation, referred to in legal action, and became the common term used to describe the small electric cars of the mid-century. Marques such as Autoette; Mobilette; Marketeer makers of the Marketeer, the Markette and, the Towne de Ville; Marketour; B&Z Electric Car Co., makers of the Electra King; Electric Shopper; Electric Sports Rider; Electrodine; Simpson Electric Car; Electro Master; Taylor Dunn, makers of the Trident; and all of the other brands became known as autoettes. The legacy remains to this day in communities such as Catalina, Laguna Beach, Balboa Island, Palm Springs, and others codes and regulations are still actively applied to autoettes, although they're more likely to be modified golf cars today. The IRS, Veterans Administration, and other regulatory agencies at the Federal level retain the term autoette in the language of the law. Thanks to the efforts of Royce Seevers and other innovators of the time the term autoette will be part of the American lexicon for years to come - perhaps even describing the neighborhood electric vehicles of tomorrow.

Thats The Way That It Was

2010-10-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

Readers of this blog will surely love this music video by Pierre de Reeder, a musician from Silverlake, California. I used to hang out with my stepsister who lived in Silverlake, a community in the LA area that is truly unique. Lots of good memories as a result of Pierre's video and of course, his Electra King!

Thank you Pierre. For those who enjoy his music, check out his day job with a band called Rilo Kiley.

Twenty-Six Miles Across The Sea

2010-05-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

Autoetteers have long known of the legendary island that lies twenty-six miles across the sea from the coast of California where Autoettes are the vehicle of choice among the residents. Here's a few interesting bits from the Autoette archives.

The Union Pacific Railroad was responsible for the famed steamship service to Catalina Island, the "Island of Romance, Romance, Romance" as promised in the legendary 1958 song by the Four Preps.

The railroad was known for its beautifully illustrated posters advertising scenic destinations across the nation. Recently, a friend found this Union Pacific poster in the collections of the Orange Empire Railway Museum.

What is interesting is this beautiful lithograph is taken from an actual photograph immortalized in a postcard also issued by Union Pacific. Here you can see the card and, on its reverse, an eloquent description of the island.

Catalina was one of the first places where widespread use of autoettes occurred. The Island became a new market for the growing industry building small electric cars in the 1950's.

As golf carts came into use and popularity, they too, became a favored mode of transportation. As early as the mid 1950's autoette rentals were popular on the Island. Today, the #1 Tourist activity is to rent a (modern) autoette.

Since 1979 the use of motor vehicles, specifically automobiles, has been restricted on the Island. Residents must wait about ten or eleven years to get permission to bring a car ashore, and it is only granted after TWO existing cars leave.

Throughout Avalon, Catalina's only city, one can see unique vintage, custom, and modern versions of the cars that qualify as autoettes. Here's a cool example that borrows its styling from early Chevrolet trucks.

Today, Catalina Island is still listed in the California Vehicle Code as a location where autoettes may be licensed and driven on the road.

Here is the section of the code describing the vehicles:

California Vehicle Code

Section 175

An "autoette" is a motor vehicle, located on a natural island

with an area in excess of 20,000 acres and that is within a county

having a population in excess of 4,000,000, that meets all of the

following requirements:

(a) Has three or more wheels in contact with the ground.

(b) Has an unladed weight of no greater than 1,800 pounds.

the front and rear bumpers.

(d) Has a width of no more than 55 inches, as measured from its

widest part.

And here is the registration requirement:

Registration of Autoettes

4000.5. (a) The department shall register an autoette, as defined in Section 175, as a motor vehicle.

(b) The owner of an autoette shall remove the license plates from the vehicle and return them to the department when the autoette is removed from a natural island, as described in Section 175.

Added Sec. 2, Ch. 322, Stats. 2006. Effective January 1, 2007.

Autoettes continue to be the vehicle of choice on Catalina Island. Here's a parting shot for the occasion when you just can't push it home.

Early Days of California Kustom Culture

2010-02-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

Many in the classic, collector, and hot rod world know the names. Two men whose names, persona, and most of all their work, are synonymous with Hot Rod culture in California in the 50's and 60's. They were...

...Kenny Howard, aka VonDutch

and
Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth.

For me, it all started when I was growing up with Rat Fink, that counterculture alternative to Mickey Mouse. The Monster T-Shirts emblazoned with weirdos, monsters, and cool cars that seemed to leap out of the illustrations, every one featuring Rat Fink somewhere in the mix. And then the Kustoms - the Beatnik Bandit, Mysterion, Orbitron, and my favorite Tweedy Pie, those really out there creations that I could build from a model kit bought for $3.95 at Earl's Toys & Hobbies in North Hollywood with my paper route earnings. These guys were legendary, larger than life, and heroes in their own way. I was privledged to meet both of them, albeit later in life, some might have said 'past their prime' but the creativity was there and both were the coolest. I attended one of Roth's 'striper reunions with my friend Tommy 'Itchy' Otis and I'll never forget it.

Von Dutch and Ed Roth are both gone now, but their talents touched many, including Royce Seevers and his Autoettes. VonDutch and Ed Roth both were young stripers starting out in the areas surrounding Long Beach and Royce Seevers knew talent when he saw it. In those early years both of these men who became legends pinstriped humble Autoettes. Our 1953 Autoette bears its original paint job and pinstriping by Kenny Howard and there is a little of VonDutch even in that work. Check out the fishnet pattern in this accent below the taillight.

With the proliferation of small electric car builders that followed Autoette, it was inevitable that in addition to shared parts, the companies would share pinstripers as well. The Electric Shopper Company, also of Long Beach, was started by a former employee of Autoette. Later purchased into the Autoette Co., the Electric Shopper utilized the talents of VonDutch and Ed Roth as well. Here is an example of an Electric Shopper with a stunning green color that retains its original striping. Note the similarities to the red Autoette.

The Mobilette in Motion

2010-02-18T16:28:00.000-08:00

This past Fall our Mobilette was in motion and attended a couple of events along the way. Here is a particularly nice photo from a gathering in October at Fort Adams in Newport Rhode Island.
This photo illustrates how the cars travel over longer distances...And here is another short video. I just can't help playing with the car when I get home.

The Mobilette

2010-02-16T18:46:00.000-08:00

The Mobilette is perhaps the most similar to Autoette and was manufactured by Mobilette Sales And Service, 316 East Seventh Street, Long Beach, Calif. In a brochure from Dec. 1961, the cars were advertised as being powered by three 6V batteries and had lower speed projections than the Autoette. A 1/4 Ton Pickup model was available with four batteries. Among the options were Extra Heavy Duty Batteries with a claimed 50 mile range. Advertising literature and brochures point to the company operating at least from 1960 through 1969.

The similarity to the Autoette is not by chance. Royce Seevers was not only a brilliant engineer but a great marketer as well. The Autoette factory and proprietary suppliers produced parts for a number of other makers including Mobilette. Components such as speed controllers, convertible tops, and much more were supplied by the factory to the other makers. The company, which was owned by Harry C. Bennison, was a competitor to the Autoette Co. and the Electric Shopper Co. of the same era. My car, which is shown in the video, was originally sold and delivered to a customer in Pasadena for $922.48. The price included optional doors, convertible top, turn signals, windshield, and side curtains.

Much of the restoration was done by the previous owner Phil Fortier of California and reflects his attention to detail.

Popular Science Redux

2010-02-16T16:53:00.000-08:00

Here is another lost entry from the files of Popular Science. I just found this copy from October 1953 in a used book store. The cover is included because it is such a great image and includes a magnificent rendering of a "Subway in the Sky." Enjoy...

Don't miss the details - click on any picture to enlarge!

The All New 1957 Autoette CruiseAbout

2010-02-14T10:28:00.000-08:00

Much of the information in my prior post titled "Auto Electric Car Co." came from Paul Melling, whose father owned the dealership in Pasadena, California. Paul sent along this brochure from 1957 showing the new Autoette CruiseAbout. This brochure is interesting because of the term of ownership of the Autoette company under Wayne Manufacturing Co. of Pomona, California. The Wayne Co., most noted for its power sweepers, purchased the rights to build the Autoette Golfmobile from Blood Sales in 1955 and then the rights to the rest of the line by 1957. A few years later Wayne sold the company back to the principles at Autoette Electric Car Sales and Service while the Wayne Co. pursued its own line of four-wheeled golf cars.

Auto Electric Car Co.

2010-02-13T10:45:00.000-08:00

The Auto Electric Car Co. dealership was located at 250 N. Lake Avenue in beautiful downtown Pasadena, California. The franchise was purchased in 1956 by Mr. Erven Melling, whose son Paul contacted me not long ago regarding the attached photos. The dealership was quite successful in its Pasadena location and sold cars over a broad geographic area from the mid-50's into the 60's. Paul Melling recounted this story about one particularly interesting delivery involving the 1/4 ton pickup model:

"The 1/4 ton pickup I remember being delivered to an elderly couple in Santa Barbara. It had every option including full side curtains (which aren't shown as an option) and metal doors. It was red with white pinstriping, even had fuzzy balls around the windshield,if you remember those from the '50's and '60's. I rode inside that one, loaded on the back of a pickup truck, from Pasadena to Santa Barbara."

That's about 100 miles one way to make a delivery! I doubt many car dealers would do that today.

Here's a little more from Paul: "My father owned an Autoette dealership in Pasadena California near Colorado Boulevard back in the late 1950's. It was pretty good size dealership with a showroom, large parking lot for test drives, and about 6 stalls for repair work and rigging all the accessories. Best I can remember is that the CruiseAbout came as a "plane Jane" and you then started adding all the accessories. The top of the line CruiseAbout had doors, convertible top, windshield, side curtains (very rare), and storage behind front seat for groceries. There was a four seater and Autoette made a truck. In California back in the 1950's and 1960's the elderly could drive them on the sidewalk, thus all the ramped curbing at the intersections. After years of the elderly running down pedestrians the state of California outlawed them in about 1970. I was stationed in Long Beach, California in the late 1960's and early 1970's. When I got back from a deployment in March of 1970 the Autoette was all but gone. The state of California all but put the car company out of business."

The dealership occupied a modern building on the corner of Locust St. and N. Lake Avenue, just a few blocks south of the location of my grandfather's hardware store. There was a showroom with offices and a separate building with service bays that wrapped around the lot. In this photo you can see a Marketeer (far left), an earlier model CruiseAbout (2nd from left), and two Wayne Mfg. Co. Autoettes. The light blue car is a 'standard' model piloted by Paul's brother Jim and the snappy two-tone red and white car is a CruiseAbout being driven by his other brother Bob.
The buildings are still there as you'll see in the accompanying photos Google Streetview.
I'd like to thank Paul Melling for his recollections and the photos of the dealership.

How POPULAR?

2010-02-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

With the Autoette having been featured in Popular Science magazine it was only a matter of time before a feature would appear in Popular Mechanics as well. First published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation, Popular Mechanics has never ceased to impress with articles and regular features on the automotive and motorsports scene; innovations and DIY pieces for the home; the outdoors; and science and technology. Archived issues of the magazine give us an insight into our past visions of a better tomorrow. In the October 1951 issue, that included a piece on the Autoette including this great piece of information we can only dream about today: "The Autoette...can run 750 miles for one dollar."

Autoettes - They're POPULAR

2010-02-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

Since 1872 Popular Science magazine has entertained, thrilled, and informed us about the latest discoveries and innovations of our time. Ever since I can remember, I've enjoyed perusing this magazine and making little discoveries with each turn of the page. I was thrilled to discover that much of the magazine is digitally archived and accessible via Google books. What a cool way to understand our impressions of the future within the context of the past.

While digitally 'thumbing' thru old issues I came across this gem from the September 1947 issue of Popular Science. I hope you enjoy it.
If any of you know of the location of an Autoette as shown in this article, please contact me.

Electric Shopper (part 2)

2010-02-03T18:44:00.000-08:00

In this second video we get a glimpse into the fun these cars can be!

Electric Shopper (part 1)

2010-02-03T18:25:00.000-08:00

In addition to Autoette, a number of other small companies came out of the micro-electric scene in southern California. Here's an introduction to one of the first competitors to Autoette.

The Electric Shopper by Electric Car Company of California, Inc., 495 Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, Calif. The Electric Shopper was produced by Electric Car Company of California, Inc. from 1952 to 1962 (per Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975). There was one model that was almost a duplicate of the Autoette, a run-about with a 61-inch wheelbase. The cars had a steel body, 24-volt, tiller steering, top, wrap around windshield, and doors. Legal issues broke out between Autoette and Electric Shopper leading to Autoette's issuance of a license to Electric Shopper for production in exchange for an interest in the company. Dr. Barry Seevers, son of Autoette founder Royce Seevers noted: “You have ask(ed) why Electric Shopper(s) look some what like a autoette,well some of autoette ex-employee's started that company only to be sued for Patent infringements later in 1958. We (Autoette) were awarded 25% interest in electric shopper, this was the same year that we sold Autoette to Wayne Mfg. in Pomona Ca.”

These two videos posted originally to YouTube show an early Electric Shopper. Here is the owner's own description: "My Grandmother, Vera Delaney, bought this Electric Shopper sometime in the 1960s. It's been sitting in a garage since 1978. This Summer, I brought it to our house, cleaned it up, installed new batteries and tires. Today was our first test drive, and it seem to run just fine! "

Wired News

2010-02-02T19:26:00.000-08:00

My friends at Vintage Golf Cart Parts asked if I could produce a wiring diagram for an Autoette CruiseAbout. Here is the result, produced by observation from my own 1953 Autoette. The car has the optional turn signals so they are included in the diagram. If anyone has an original wiring diagram to share please contact me. Hopefully this diagram will be of use. If you are interested in Vintage Golf Carts check out this website: www.VintageGolfCartParts.com

The Faure Electric Auto

2010-01-30T08:48:00.000-08:00

Vehicules Sans Essence

Click on the link above to view this cool video from August 1, 1941. The film shows a convoy of wood gas powered trucks and then scenes of a three wheeled electric car on the streets of Paris. The car was a battery powered creation by Monsieur Pierre Faure. Mssr. Faure is listed in the Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars. London: Ebury Press,. Pierre Faure of Paris, France (or possibly Lyons, or both) produced the car from 1941- 1947. A few were sold during World War II when gasoline was very scarce for civilian purposes. A return of plentiful post-war petrol spelled the demise of production of this vehicle. Certainly these cars were born of the same idea as the Autoette.

Saturday Evening Post June 26, 1954

2010-01-30T08:08:00.000-08:00

This just in...

I recently found this original ad from the Saturday Evening Post of June 26, 1954. I love this ad. It is the most extensive ad I have seen for the Autoette. I think you'll enjoy the content as much as I did.

Autoette Video (part 2)

2010-01-25T16:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a second video of our 1953 Autoette CruiseAbout. The car is believed to be one of the first with the small "accessible" door on the curb side. Dr. Barry Seevers, son of the company's founder Royce Seevers told me the doors were first added about that time.

Autoettes on YouTube

2010-01-24T13:33:00.000-08:00

I thought all these news clippings might be boring for some so here's some cars in action! First up, some video shot today of our 1953 Autoette CruiseAbout. The car is an original survivor which retains almost all of its original features including paint, original pinstriping by VonDutch, original top, seat back, arm rests, and more.

Autoettes in the News (part 3)

2010-01-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

With all the various sources of information on who killed the electric car, I thought it would be good to look back at some autoette related incidents that also made the news. Undoubtedly these unfortunate incidents may have contributed to the demise of the little wonders. Unfortunately in some communities the autoettes earned a reputation as an annoyance. Here are a few cases where autoette drivers ended up in court!

In this first case the unsuspecting Autoetteers were the victims.

California Courts of Appeal Reports

JOBE v. HAROLD LIVESTOCK COM. CO., 113 Cal.App.2d 269 (1952)

Docket No. 18964.

September 25, 1952.

At about 11 o'clock a.m., October 19, 1949, plaintiff James M. Jobe and his wife, Mary, were riding in an autoette driven by Mr. Jobe. An autoette is a small three wheel vehicle operated by batteries. They were proceeding east on Walnut Street in the Bellflower district of Los Angeles County. They reached the intersection of Clark Street where they stopped. They then proceeded into Clark Street until their vehicle came into collision with an automobile of Harold Stiefel, doing business as Harold Livestock Commission Company, driven by his employee, Stiefel, Jr., hereinafter called defendant. Walnut Street is 34 feet wide, Clark Street is 54 feet wide. There was a stop sign on Walnut at the intersection of Clark. The point of the collision was about 9 feet north of the south curb line of Walnut and 13 feet west of the east line of Clark Street. The car of defendant left skid marks 58 feet long before it reached the point of collision and 14 or 15 feet beyond. The autoette came to rest about 5 feet southwest of the northeast curb intersection. Mrs. Jobe met her death in the accident and Mr. Jobe was injured. In this action for damages the verdict and judgment were in favor of Stiefel, Sr., doing business as Harold Livestock Commission Company and Stiefel, Jr. Plaintiff appeals. The points on appeal are the following: Refusal of plaintiff's requested instructions (1) on the doctrine of last clear chance; (2) that violation of sections of the Vehicle Code constituted negligence as a matter of law.

Can you believe it? Mr. Stiefel, Jr. was going fast enought to skid 58 feet before hitting and killing poor Mrs. Jobe in her Autoette!

In another unfortunate incident an Autoette driver from Norco, CA was struck from behind resulting in this horrific story as told in the Corona Press, September 11, 1958:
WILLIAM NABORS, 81, DIES AFTER AUTO COLLISION William J.Nabors of 1160 East 6th street, Norco, died at 8:20 a.m. ath the corona Hospital after being injured in a traffic collision at 6:35 p.m. yesterday in Norco. He was taken to the hospital in a Bell-Thomas ambulance, with attendants, administering oxygen to the elderly victim all the way to the hospital. A coroner's inquest will be held to determine the cause of death. He was believed to have suffered a brain concussion, internal injuries and hemorrages in the accident. He was thrown from his three-wheeled Autoette in the crash. BLINDED BY THE SUN Aubrey Henderson, 21, of 3015 Valley View, Norco, was the driver of the other vehicle involved, a 1950 Chevrolet convertible. Henderson told California Highway Patrolmen he was driving west on 6th street near Hillside when the glare of the sun on his windshield blinded him. He said he didn't see the blue Autoette in the shadows until he hit it. Both vehicles where going westbound, the CHP said. The Autoette was spun out of control when Henderson's car struck it in the rear. It ran off the road on the right shoulder and turned over on to its left side, spilling the victim on to the ground. Mr.Nabors was knocked unconcious in the accident. Henderson's car was damaged at the right front fender.

In Long Beach two other incidents ended up being widely reported. One in which an autoette driver struck a ladder upon which a man was working. The man's fall resulted in serious injury and an appearance in court for all concerned. In the other incident, the City of Long Beach was found at fault when an elderly woman in her Autoette struck an irregularity in the pavement. The tiller was violently jerked from her hand and the vehicle spun out of control into a wall. The pres reported at the time that she was forced to let go of the throttle causing the car to accelerate as it crashed - an unusual claim given the nature of the throttle lever and its tendency to return to the stop position.

These early mishaps did not deter our intrepid manufacturers and, with the benefit of more positive coverage in the news, the cars continued to gain in popularity!

What better promotion than this following piece from the April 10, 1954 edition of the Toledo Blade newspaper.

In case this is difficult to read, the well known Burning Tree Club of Washington DC announced its purchase of a Presidential Autoette for the use of non other than Ike! That's right, president Eisenhower, who had enough tramping around while in the infantry and was inspired by a visit to Palm Springs where he had seen an Autoette in use. Ike is quoted as saying "a man his age could add 10 years of golfing to his life by using an Autoette."

Autoettes in the News (part 2)

2010-01-11T16:54:00.000-08:00

Autoettes soon caught on and their popularity increased with the jubilant culture of the 50's and America's fascination with mobility, suburban living, planned communities and gadgets of all kinds. This was the time of the nuclear family, the Fuller Brush man, encyclopedia salesmen, a TV set in every home, and conveniences never dreamed of before. The 50's were a symbol of modernity and a clean, quiet, easy-to-operate electric car was perfect for the times.

Royce Seevers, founder of the Autoette Electric Car Co., was a creative marketer and promoter and recognized opportunity when it arose. A number of sources credit Royce Seevers and the Autoette as being the forerunner of the Golf Carts of today, in part because of the marketing done in Palm Springs at the Thunderbird Golf Club.

At the Club the cars were driven and promoted by celebrities such as Desi Arnaz, Phil Harris, Bing Crosby and Milt Hicks; and by the husband and wife team of Velma and John Dawson who owned the Club. John was a prominent amateur golfer in the early '40s. He found it remarkable that a resort like Palm Springs had no 18-hole golf course. He got into golf development and is credited with making Palm Springs the golf capital of the world. John Dawson bought an old, failing dude ranch in Rancho Mirage, a place called the Thunderbird that was losing $35,000 a year and up for sale. It became Palm Springs first golf club. (That's when the desert town was four-hour drive from L.A.) The last country club Dawson created before his death was the Marrakesh in the '70s.

Here's Velma and Johnny Dawson aboard an Autoette. Velma Dawson was the creator of the famous TV puppet Howdy Doo dy.

Here's a few more photos of Autoettes on the links and about Palm Springs.

Autoettes in the News (part 1)

2010-01-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

Here's a few newspaper clippings about Autoettes that I've found while skimming through digital archives. The quality leaves a little to be desired but the content is interesting and, at times humorous. In subsequent parts of this post I'll try to add some later articles and clippings including some interesting stuff regarding Autoette accidents. In the meantime, enjoy this glimpse into the past.
On the west coast, the Los Angeles Times ran ads as early as October 10th, 1947 announcing the "The New 1947 Autoette Electric Cruise-About."

By this time Blood Sales Co. was distributing CruiseAbouts and by 1947, selling them via a network of dealers as far east as Florida.
Here's an early ad from the St. Petersburg Times, March 2, 1948. An earlier ad appeared in the St. Petersburg Times on November 6, 1947 proclaiming "Free Home Demonstration" and "No Obligation." The ad also stated the cars were available for "Immediate Delivery" and "Now on Display."

It didn't take long for dealers to expand on the opportunity and popularity of the Autoette. In this ad from 1949, the famous Webb's City in St. Petersburg highlighted the cars for only $584.50!

So, all these ads generated some notable sales. As these next clippings show, the Autoette and some notable owners generated interest in the press.
Here in the August 26, 1949 issue of the Lewiston Evening Journal of Auburn, Maine Mr. Charley Chappel, a Civil War veteran is noted for driving his Autoette! But as they say in the infomercials - there's more...

It seems earlier that month on August 3rd, 1949 Chipper Charley Chappel was in the paper for an even more notable incident! This time Charley was featured in papers up and down the West coast for his act of bravery aboard his trusty Autoette.

Next time I'll venture into the 1950s and a look at the some celebrity connections...

Autoettes in Winter

2010-01-03T12:39:00.000-08:00

The Autoettes are in the garage, away from winter's blast. It's been snowing for three days here so I've started my first blog. Welcome aboard if you're reading this. In the coming blogs I hope to share some of what I have, or will, discover about Autoettes, or what today we refer to as NEVs. My investigation into these little electric cars started out when I began looking into the story of my own Autoette. As I've pursued this story I have found that the history is richer and deeper than I ever expected (prompting this revision of my very first post to the blog).
In the beginning I dedicated this blog to Royce Seevers (That's him in the photo) and the others who had a vision back then that we are only now beginning to understand and appreciate. Now I know that it was the work of many individuals who, starting much earlier, began developing mobility solutions for the elderly and mobility impaired that led to the development of electric cars for shopping, errands, and more. Now as my work continues I hope to introduce you to some of those stories and share with you the history of the amazing autoettes of Long Beach.