Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar

Last updated 2002.11.29

Approximately 2,200 of these small, wedge-fronted 2-seaters were built in Sebring FL in the mid-1970's by the Sebring-Vanguard Co., which makes this unquestionably the most successful electric car of the modern era. Powered by a 3.5 horsepower motor drawing power from eight 6-volt lead-acid golf-cart batteries and controlled by contactors, resistors and switching batteries from parallel to series connection, the vehicle weighed in at 980 pounds without batteries or about 1,400 pounds with the 8 batteries in it. The vehicle boasted a reliable range of 40 miles in warm weather and had a top speed in excess of 30 mph. The car made an appearance in the movie THX-1138. Built of ABS plastic, the bodies are not subject to rust or corrosion. Many are still in operation more than 20 years after they were built, in fact there are probably more of these electric cars on the road in the late 1990's in North America than GM's EV-1 a year after the introduction of GM's star EV of current times. This car was the dream of Bob Beaumont, who worked tirelessly to bring it to fruition. That story is the base for the book "The Lost Cord", written by Barbara E. Taylor.

In Canada, CitiCars are known to have operated in Braeside ON, Nepean ON, Ottawa ON, London ON, Stratford ON, Bowmanville ON, and Victoria BC.

Photo of CitiCar (colour - 212k)

Some CitiCar links:
Nu-Kar/Assembled Products Home Page even includes an on-line catalog of parts for CitiCars, Comuta-Cars and vans.
Yahoo C-Car Links
Auto Quest Investment Cars on the CitiCar (please note the photo with the article is a Comuta-Car, not a Citicar, and the prices quoted for the vehicle today are hopelessly optimistic)
The Harding CitiCar page
John Buckman's CitiCar page
Andrew Letton's CitiCar experience
Scott's CitiCar page
Scott's Comuta-car page
Wiring Diagram, pre-1976 CitiCar (courtesy Mike Chancey)

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