One of my local scrappers dropped off an Autoette 3 wheeled electric car today. Its pretty cool, forgot the camera at work, so pics tomorrow. I've been searching the google for info on these and found very little. Just that they were made in the early 50's and used 4 batteries. They were powered by tank turret motors. Supposedly were street legal. Somebody on here must have one or know something about them. Like where to find parts, etc. Thanks!!
I gotta see a picture of this. Read a couple articles and says they were used as electric wheelchairs for handicapped people in the 50's, like the first Rascal Scooters. I can't find a pic of one anywhere. I bet it's cool though.
This picture is out the Standard Catalogue of American Cars. It looks like they are using it as a golf cart. According to the book they were produced from 1952-1957. The one they show is an 850 Roadster. It also says three models were offered varying in wheelbase and overall length. They offered a 800, 850, and 875. The 800 was $773 from the factory while the 875 was $948. It says they had an electric 24Volt DC motor with 4 heavy duty 17 plate 6Volt batteries and could go between 35-40 miles between charges. They were manufactured by Autoette Electric Car Co., Long Beach, Cali. Looks pretty neat, hope this helps!
Looks a lot like an old Cushman. Don't think I'd be too confident driving that thing on the streets in California - even back in the '50s! "Street legal" didn't necessarily mean "street safe" back then. Believe me, it was a whole different world.
Go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/autoette Lots of pictures and an active discussion board. I've had four or five over the last 10 years. Currently have an electric shopper that I'm working on. I had it at the antique nationals this year all around the pits. I'll drag it out to the lakes this year if I can get the time. Other similiar carts are Marketeer, Marketour & electric shopper. I posted some pictures a while back, don't have a link to the thread tho.
The Long Beach one's were built in a corrugated steel building on Newport, a block East of Redondo, between 11th and Anahiem St. I rented that same building in the early 90's and it's where I did the painting and final assembly on my 40 GMC. It was about a 10 to 12 car garage. The company was owned by my brother's ex'wife's father. He passed a few years ago.
Small world for you DRJ. This one has an emblem that says "uiseabout" on it. Its broken off in the front. Cruiseabout? I still have pic issues. Droptank, I'll contact you tomorrow on this one. Ray
I'm wondering if this outfit has any relationship to Taylor-Dunn, which built the same sort of an outfit. The design is very similiar. T-D is inAnaheim, CA. We used their equipment in the shop, 3 and 4 wheeled industrial trucks, very much like the electric Cushmans...originally Currie (who builds the 9" hot rod rear ends)started out making cut down early Ford banjo rear ends for T-D, he had a dayshift job, and did the rear end work at home at night. When Ford rear ends became hard to find, he developed the 9" to do the same job for T-D. Then got into making them for rods.
My aunt had one for YEARS in the garage in Redondo Beach in perfect condition. I think they scrapped it in the late '70s. It had a roof and windshield. I would like to find one someday.
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