Vehicle Description
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 5,000
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 Electric's 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 The older models' outdated looks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 isn't 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 body's 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 99's 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, they're 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
today's 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 considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6695-1937-detroit-electric-model-99c-2-dr/
