Vehicle Description
Detroit Electric is somewhat of an anomaly compared to other
companies who adopted "alternative fuels".� The pioneering days of
the automobile industry were awash with creative ideas for
propulsion beyond just the internal combustion petrol engine. Steam
and Electric were popular alternatives before the petroleum
infrastructure was fully established. Electrics in particular
became popular among wealthy urban women, as they were clean,
silent and perfectly suited for the short distances traveled in the
city. In the days before Cadillac's adoption of the Delco System
Self-Starter, electrics also had the distinct advantage with no
difficult and dangerous starting procedure which, if done
improperly could cause serious injury. Even when executed properly,
it was not considered particularly lady-like to be yanking on a
starter handle. While electrics didn't particularly flourish in the
face of the rapidly developing petrol-engined cars, a reasonably
steady market existed to support a few manufacturers.
Detroit-Electric stands out as by far one of the most successful
and longest-surviving of them all, remaining in production from
1907 through 1939. As steam and electric cars dropped by the
wayside, Detroit Electric somehow managed to survive, producing
simple, but well-constructed cars that seemed well past their
expiry date. Their best year, 1914, saw a production of 4669 cars -
putting them decidedly in a niche market when compared to the likes
of Ford. But the company persisted even as the fondness for
electric cars began to wane after 1916, a time when most production
automobiles were offered with electric starters. Styling upgrades
such as the addition of "false fronts" kept them up with current
trends and even an open speedster proved popular with buyers.
Production dropped steadily, even after prices were reduced from a
peak of $4000 in 1921. But Detroit Electric persisted, offering
buyers the option of conventional bodies supplied by Dodge or
Willys-Overland to sit atop their chassis from 1930 onward.
Remarkably, the firm soldiered on, still offering the classic
(though it was considered positively archaic at the time) "parlor
on wheels" body style with tiller steering through the end of
production - which some believe persisted until as late as 1941. An
estimated 35,000 Detroit Electrics were built over the company's 35
years, and they remain popular with collectors and enthusiasts.
This 1931 Model 97 Coupe is one such later model from Detroit
Electric. This example is one of the finest we've had the pleasure
to offer, having been restored to concours standards by an
experienced marque specialist. The elegant dark blue over black
paintwork is beautifully finished and the body straight and finely
detailed. According to historian Beverly Rae Kimes, just 131
Detroit Electric cars were built in 1931, making this a very rare
motorcar, indeed. While there is little to differentiate this later
model from those in the teens, there are a few subtle differences.
Most notable clues are the smaller, 18-inch wire wheels as well as
the chrome headlights and bumpers. The wire wheels are finished in
black with lovely chrome beauty rings and center caps and blackwall
tires lend an understated appearance to the exterior. Unique cowl
lights and a "SLO" brake light add to the period charm and it wears
the originally equipped trunk rack - presumably to hold the
shopping since long trips were not exactly practical for the time.
To the uninitiated, the unconventional cabin layout can be quite
surprising. Most notable is the lack of a traditional steering
wheel and pedal arrangement. With the feeling of a lounge on
wheels, the driver operates the car via a tiller whilst sat far
back on the main bench seat. A flower vase and swiveling, jump seat
up front continues the casual salon-like feel as one can easily
imagine a trio of socialites using this Detroit in period, chatting
away whilst on a shopping run in the city. Like the exterior, the
interior is nicely finished to a very high standard. Patterned
cloth upholstery on the seats is complemented by tan fabric on the
door cards and interior panels. The cabin is simple, yet elegant
and inviting, with minimal adornment and basic instrumentation to
monitor speed and battery output. Modern AGM batteries replace the
original lead-acid type. The modern batteries are of course more
powerful and lighter than the originals, lending improved
performance and range. The quality of the restoration impresses,
with scant few imperfections to detract from the fine presentation.
We are quite pleased to offer this outstanding example, a rare
survivor from the later days of Detroit Electric, a fascinating
footnote in American automobile history that has returned to
relevance considering the newfound attention paid to alternative
fuels.
