We’ve compiled a collection of pictures of vintage engine bays. What engine bay has stood out to you in the past? Continue reading
Category Archives: Electric
Time traveling: 1980s European cars at the Chicago Motor Show
The first edition of the Chicago Motor Show was held in 1901, making it one of the oldest car shows in the world. The Chicago show was once one of the nation’s largest automotive events but it is overshadowed today by bigger, more important industry trade shows held in New York, Detroit and Los Angeles. … Continue reading
A look at the 1966 Chevrolet Electrovair II concept [Video]
General Motors designed and built a battery-powered Corvair in 1964. Largely experimental, the Electrovair was based on the four-door model but it reportedly had its rear doors welded shut in order to increase structural rigidity. Although the project had many shortcomings, engineers continued to develop the technology after the car was presented. Continue reading
Battery-powered oddity: Morris Minor Electric
We stumbled upon a veritable herd of Morris Minors not far from Puget Sound in the state of Washington. Although all of the cars are interesting in their own rights, a blue late-1950s example with an “Electric” badge on the trunk and no exhaust pipe stuck out like a sore thumb. Continue reading
A look at the experimental BMW 3-Series Electric
BMW used the data it gathered from the E30-based 325iX Elektric test mules to develop a total of 25 battery-powered E36 prototypes from 1991 to 1997. The cars were still finicky and not considered candidates for mass production, but they represented a significant step forward in the field of electric mobility. Continue reading
A look at the experimental 1987 BMW 325iX Elektric
BMW started experimenting with electric drivetrains in 1969 when it asked its top engineers to design a battery-powered version of the popular 1602. The car took several years to complete and it didn’t make its public debut until the city of Munich, Germany, held the Olympic Games in 1972. The electric coupe worked as engineers … Continue reading
A quick look at the 1982 Mercedes-Benz w123 plug-in hybrid
Motivated by the 1979 energy crisis, Mercedes-Benz traveled to the 32nd annual Hanover Trade Fair that took place in 1982 to showcase a battery-powered prototype based on the w123 wagon. The electric w123 was part of Mercedes’ goal to test all technically and economically feasible alternatives to traditional gasoline- and diesel-powered cars and it was … Continue reading
A quick look at the 1972 BMW 1602 Electric
BMW is at a turning point in its existence. Not only is it preparing to launch its first-ever front-wheel drive model, it is also on the verge of introducing a sub-brand that will exclusively sell electric vehicles. The German automaker has been dabbling in EVs since 1969 when it started designing an all-electric variant of … Continue reading